CHI95LA194

Factual narrative

On June 22, 1995, at 2010 central daylight time, a Piper J-5A, N40888, registered to John P. Chmiel of Wausau, Wisconsin, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with fuel pumps on an aircraft refueling island during taxi for departure at the Wausau Municipal Airport, Wausau, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The airplane was going to depart from Wausau, Wisconsin, at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's statement, he was taxing the airplane in a confined area when he misjudged his distance from the fuel pumps. He said the right main landing gear and wing strut struck the fuel pumps during taxi. The pilot said the collision broke the right landing gear forward mounting bolt. He said the right wing struts and associated jury struts were badly bent. The right wing's main spar was cracked at the jury strut mount, according to the pilot. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS TAXIING THE AIRPLANE IN A CONGESTED AREA NEAR A REFUELING ISLAND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND WING STRUT COLLIDED WITH THE FUEL PUMPS ON THE ISLAND. THE RIGHT WING STRUTS WERE BENT AND THE RIGHT WING SPAR WAS CRACKED AT THE JURY STRUT ATTACH POINT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12