P51 1, Piper Malibu Nil

[Dr Jekyll]

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/305422

Report said:

The P-51D Mustang "Glamorous Glenn III" ran into the aft section of N282TX, a Piper PA-46-600TP M600, as it was holding short for departure for Runway 36 at Taxiway "A".
The M600 sustained extensive damage (both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers were destroyed, and the aft fuselage skin was damaged). The P-51D sustained minor damage to the propeller. There were no injuries.

[Simpo Two]

Oops. There's a reason why you're supposed to swing the nose when taxiing...

[GliderRider]

Simpo Two said:

Oops. There's a reason why you're supposed to swing the nose when taxiing...

When the P-51 was built, that was the only way to see straight ahead. These days, a £20 parking camera and monitor could have given the pilot awareness of what was directly in front. Its got to be only a matter of time before insurance companies will make them mandatory on long-nosed tailwheel aircraft.

It can't be much fun being on the receiving end of this:

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 3rd January 20:54

[Simpo Two]

GliderRider said:

These days, a £20 parking camera and monitor could have given the pilot awareness of what was directly in front.

Certainly cheaper than a new propeller and half a light aircraft.

[MarkwG]

GliderRider said:

Ah, the old Warburtons company aircraft, I think...

[V41LEY]

MarkwG said:

GliderRider said:

Ah, the old Warburtons company aircraft, I think...

Indeed. Extra Thick Toastie I’d wager !

[Krikkit]

GliderRider said:

Has the pilot stopped clenching yet?

[Simpo Two]

On Pprune it looks to be a different aircraft, unless I've made a bad mistake: https://www.pprune.org/accidents-close-calls/65054...

[lufbramatt]

Reminds me of the story of a WW2 US Marines pilot sawing the tail of a Japanese "Nick" with the prop of his Corsair after his guns froze up at high altitude.

[GliderRider]

V41LEY said:

MarkwG said:

GliderRider said:

Ah, the old Warburtons company aircraft, I think...

Indeed. Extra Thick Toastie I’d wager !

Simpo Two, it is a different aircraft. I just used a picture that did the rounds a few years ago. Sadly, several of these toast racks get made each year.

[Steve_D]

From the pictures on Prune it looks like it did significant damage to the other guy with very little visible damage to itself.

Steve

[eharding]

Simpo Two said:

Oops. There's a reason why you're supposed to swing the nose when taxiing...

Indeed - it doesn't always help though - for example the original mid-wing Extra 300 can be very challenging to taxi, as in addition to the nose blocking the forward view the visibility from the back (P1) seat is very limited over the wings on either side, and swinging the nose does nothing to help that.

Would be interested to see what the final outcome of the investigation into this accident comes up with - looking at the site of the collision you'd have thought the P51 pilot would have had a good view of whatever was at the hold as he came round the left hand corner of the taxiway ( assuming I'm looking at the correct airport chart - hold 'A' for 36 at Houston Executive Airport). Has the possibility of a brake failure (rather than obstructed visibility) been discounted as the cause? - a total brake failure would mean no differential-brake steering, just the fairly limited tailwheel steering. Given the limited damage to the Mustang prop, I'd guess the engine was completely at idle or even in the process of being shut down as the impact happened.