NTSB WPR11CA376 — 2011-08-14 · San Diego, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N216AF

Make / Model: CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture: 1980 · 31 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19800825
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A1CFD2

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N216AF Cessna 172P None

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

Factual narrative

After landing, the student pilot was cleared to taxi to the ramp area at his flight school. The student pilot stated that he observed the fuel truck and misjudged the clearance. The left wing tip hit the parked fuel truck's ladder and the airplane pivoted to the left where the leading edge of the wing struck the fuel truck. The damage to the airplane consisted of substantial structural damage to the left wing leading edge. After landing, the student pilot was cleared to taxi to the ramp area at his flight school. The student pilot stated that he observed the fuel truck and misjudged the clearance. The left wing tip hit the parked fuel truck's ladder and the airplane pivoted to the left, where the leading edge of the wing struck the fuel truck. The damage to the airplane consisted of substantial structural damage to the left wing’s leading edge. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student pilot - C
C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Response/compensation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11CA376.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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