Event LAX03LA144

Factual narrative

On April 25, 2003, at 1059 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N38137, collided with a fuel truck while taxing to parking at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona. National Air College, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual metrological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated at French Valley Airport, Murrieta, California, at 0930. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the fuel truck was parked with the operator inside the vehicle and no fueling was in progress. He stated that he was taxing at a normal taxi speed with the nose wheel on the centerline, and was not aware that the fuel truck was obstructing the taxi way. He said he "misjudged the distance" between the airplane and fuel truck, and the airplane struck the fuel truck with the outboard 18 inches of the left wing. While taxing to parking, the airplane collided with a parked fuel truck with the outboard 18 inches of the left wing. The pilot was taxing on the centerline, at a normal speed, and was not aware that the fuel truck was obstructing the taxi way. He said he "misjudged the distance" between the airplane and the fuel truck. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12