CHI88LA021

Factual narrative

THE PLT OF NORTH AMERICAN P-51D, N6341T, WAS SOUTHBOUND ON TWY ALPHA AS THE PLT OF PIPER PA-28 CHEROKEE, N8253E, TAXIED FROM THE RUN-UP AREA TO THE HOLD LINE FOR RWY 33, WHICH WAS NEAR THE INTXN OF TWYS ALPHA & INDIA. THE PLT OF THE TAIL- WHEEL EQUIPPED P-51 WAS S-TURNING AS HE TAXIED TO CLEAR THE AREA AHEAD. HOWEVER, WHILE CROSSING THE INTXN OF TWYS ALPHA & INDIA IN A LEFT S-TURN, HIS RGT WING STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE OF THE PA-28. THE PA-28 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DMGD WHILE THE P-51 RCVD MINOR DAMAGE. THE PA-28 PLT SAID HE HAD CONTACTED GND CTL BEFORE TAXIING FROM THE RUN-UP AREA TO THE HOLD LINE, THEN HAD CHANGED TO TOWER FREQ. HOWEVER, HE HAD DELAYED CONTACTING THE TOWER DUE TO RADIO CONGESTION ON THAT FREQ.THE P-51 PLT STATED THAT FROM A DISTANCE, HE SAW ANOTHER ACFT MOVING WEST ACROSS HIS PATH, BUT HE DID NOT RECEIVE AN ADZY OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PA-28. A CHECK OF THE TOWER TAPE REVEALED THE GND CTLR HAD TRANSMITTED TO THE P-51 PLT 'CAUTION FOR CHEROKEE AHEAD AND TO YOUR RIGHT.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12