# Accident 20070511006679A: Piper PA38112, Mariposa, CA, May 11, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2007, 09:00 local time
- Place: Mariposa, CA
- Airport: Mariposa-Yosemite
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5108° N, 120.0394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5108&lon=-120.0394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2539D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2539D-2010-04-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38112
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 249 total, 160 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070511006679A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE RUNWAY AFTER LANDING AND DECIDED TO TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF OVER HIS HEAD BECAUSE HE WAS HOT. DURING THE TIME WHEN HE WAS TAKING HIS SHIRT OVER HIS HEAD HE RELINQUISHED TAXI CONTROL TO THE OTHER PASSENGER (STUDENT PILOT) AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY AND HIT A TRUCK THAT WAS DOING MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRPORT. THE ONE INCH GASH IN THE LEFT WING CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING ATTACH POINT AT THE WING ROOT. NO INJURY TO ANYONE INVOLVED AND WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.

## 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 LAX07CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA157), May 11, 2007: Piper PA-38-112 (N2539D), Mariposa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a vehicle while taxiing.

## Other reports on N2539D (1)

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

- [Accident 20091208023129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091208023129A), Dec 8, 2009: Piper PA38112 (N2539D), Fresno, CA, Destroyed. While on initial climb out from fat rwy 20L, the pilot indicated the engine started to backfire and noticed the engine RPM dropping and started to surge around…

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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