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Atlas / NTSB / MIA07LA026

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event MIA07LA026

2006-12-13 Naples, Florida, United States Airport · APF None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The experimental airplane's pilot inadequate visual lookout while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a Piper airplane which was standing with its engine operating in the runup area.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the N427RD, a John Lingwall model Rebich-Pitts, experimental amateur-built airplane, stated that he was taxiing his single place aerobatic tailwheel airplane south on taxiway A for departure on runway 5. He stated that he made clearing turns, and mentally noted that there were airplanes in the run-up area. He said he observed one airplane taxiing into position for takeoff on runway 5, and believing that he had accounted for all the airplanes, he continued to taxi. He said that his airplane's propeller struck the right wing of another airplane, and it was at that moment that he realized there was another airplane that had been hidden from his view. The flight instructor and student on N970AC, a Piper PA28-16, stated that they were stationary in the run-up area, and provided additional information which concurred with the pilot of the Pitts. Damage to the Pitts was minor, and the Piper incurred damage to its right wing spar. The pilot of N427RD, an experimental amateur-built airplane, stated that while taxiing for takeoff he made clearing turns, and mentally noted the airplanes in the run-up area. He said he observed one airplane taxiing into position for takeoff, and believing that he had accounted for all the airplanes, he continued to taxi. He said that his airplane's propeller struck the right wing of another airplane, N970AC, a Piper PA-28-161. Damage to the experimental airplane was minor, and the Piper incurred substantial damage to its right wing spar. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_MIA07LA026.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.