# Accident 19970802047079A: Piper PA38112, Manassas, VA, August 2, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 1997, 11:50 local time
- Place: Manassas, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7230° N, 77.5154° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7230&lon=-77.5154&mi=10
- Aircraft: N23831, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23831) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38112
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970802047079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-16) PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM FUEL TRUCK. PILOT STATED SHE THOUGHT THE RIGHT WING TIP WOULD CLEAR FUEL TRUCK. HOWEVER, RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK RIGHT HEADLIGHT AREA OF FUEL TRUCK. AIRCRAFT MOMENTUM TURNED AIRCRAFT INTO SIDE OF TRUCK RESULTING N 3 TO 4 PROP STRIKES IN FUEL TRUCK AND FILTER BEFORE ENGINE STOPPAGE. PILOT COMPLETED EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN AND EVACUATED AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ONBOARD. HOWEVER, 3 PEOPLE CONDUCTING FUELING OPERATIONS RAN CLEAR OF AREA. ONE PERSON (FUELER) FELL AND SLIGHTLY INJURED RIGHT HAND AND ARM.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC97LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA164), Aug 2, 1997: Piper PA-38-112 (N23831), Manassas, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of clearance between the aircraft and fuel truck, which resulted in a collision.

## Other reports on N23831 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19901101055649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901101055649I), Nov 1, 1990: Piper PA38112 (N23831), Yanceyville, NC. Engine lost power in flight. Forced landing in a field.
- [Incident 19830905065369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830905065369I), Sep 5, 1983: Piper PA38112 (N23831), Enterprise, AL, Minor damage. Landed 50 feet short of runway. Collapsed the nose gear. Stopped on edge of runway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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