NTSB ERA21LA306 — 2021-07-27 · Farmingdale, New York, United States

Current FAA registration · N73334

Make / Model: CESSNA 172M
Year of manufacture: 1976 · 45 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19760525
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A9D90E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N73334 Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a fuel truck while taxiing

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway, he noticed a fuel truck was in close proximity to the taxiway. After he assessed the situation and felt that he had enough room to taxi around the fuel truck on the left, he continued to taxi. However, while maneuvering around the vehicle he misjudged the clearance, and the left wing was substantially damaged when it collided with the fuel truck. The student reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Student/instructed pilot
— Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Student/instructed pilot
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Decision related to condition

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_ERA21LA306.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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