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GAA18CA360

2018-06-14 · Salem, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SLO

Current FAA registration · N98395

Make / Model
CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture
1985 · 33 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES (150 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19841107
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ADB9FA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a pole while taxiing the airplane on the ramp.

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, after landing, he taxied the airplane to the ramp to get fuel. While in front of the fuel tank he repositioned the airplane with a 360° turn. During a second attempt to reposition the airplane the right wing struck a nearby pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, after landing, he taxied the airplane to the ramp to get fuel. While in front of the fuel tank, he repositioned the airplane with a 360° turn. During a second attempt to reposition the airplane, the right wing struck a nearby pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA360.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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