GAA18CA588

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that during taxi to the runway, he saw a fuel truck parked in the grass on the left side of the asphalt taxilane. He "assumed that the truck driver had left room for airplanes to get by," however, as the airplane passed the truck, and the left wing struck the rear of the truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, during taxi to the runway, he saw a fuel truck parked in the grass on the left side of the asphalt taxilane. He added that he "assumed that the truck driver had left room for airplanes to get by"; however, as the airplane passed the truck, its left wing struck the rear of the truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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-Ground vehicle-Effect on operation - C