What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Wing tip hit fire truck then pivoted into truck with nose of 152. Looked at paper work momentarily. (-23) student was taxiing out for takeoff for solo cross-country flight. Aircraft caught left wingtip on fire truck that was parked between the taxi-way and hangar adjacent to the apron. Aircraft then spun around and propeller struck the truck causing minor (apparently only minor) damage to the propeller. The wing-tip received substantial damage. Minimal damage received by the truck. The student stated to me that he thought his progress would clear the truck and that he momentarily looked down to check a portion of his planning for the proposed flight. In retrospect, he needed to wait until clear of the truck before consulting his paperwork. Informed student CFI of no further solo unitl dual instruction received. 06-11-97 rx fax of student's logbook from CFI evidencing additional dual.
As the FAA filed it
WING TIP HIT FIRE TRUCK THEN PIVOTED INTO TRUCK WITH NOSE OF 152. LOOKED AT PAPER WORK MOMENTARILY. (-23) STUDENT WAS TAXIING OUT FOR TAKEOFF FOR SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT CAUGHT LEFT WINGTIP ON FIRE TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED BETWEEN THE TAXI-WAY AND HANGAR ADJACENT TO THE APRON. AIRCRAFT THEN SPUN AROUND AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE TRUCK CAUSING MINOR (APPARENTLY ONLY MINOR) DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER. THE WING-TIP RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. MINIMAL DAMAGE RECEIVED BY THE TRUCK. THE STUDENT STATED TO ME THAT HE THOUGHT HIS PROGRESS WOULD CLEAR THE TRUCK AND THAT HE MOMENTARILY LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK A PORTION OF HIS PLANNING FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT. IN RETROSPECT, HE NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL CLEAR OF THE TRUCK BEFORE CONSULTING HIS PAPERWORK. INFORMED STUDENT CFI OF NO FURTHER SOLO UNITL DUAL INSTRUCTION RECEIVED. 06-11-97 RX FAX OF STUDENT'S LOGBOOK FROM CFI EVIDENCING ADDITIONAL DUAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N68454 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.