# NTSB DFW08CA154: Cessna 172M, N9144H, San Antonio, TX, May 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2008, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.534444, -98.457221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5344&lon=-98.4572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object while taxiing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's diverted attention and a vehicle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing from the pilot school ramp and was about to depart on a solo long cross country flight when the airport ground controller called him on the radio. The pilot became distracted while taxiing and failed to notice the 2,000 gallon aviation gasoline refueling truck in front of him and collided with the right rear of the refueling truck. The impact forces of the right wing of the airplane striking the refueling truck spun the airplane to the right and the airplane's propeller struck the refueling truck causing substantial damage to the right wing and damage to the rear bumper and main storage tank of the refueling truck. The pilot was able to shut down the engine before the propeller ruptured the tank containing the aviation gasoline. There was no post crash fire and the pilot was not injured. ## Factual narrative The 72 hour private pilot was taxiing from the pilot school ramp and was about to depart on a solo long cross country flight when the airport ground controller called him on the radio. The pilot became distracted while taxiing and failed to notice the 2,000 gallon aviation gasoline refueling truck in front of him and collided with the right rear of the refueling truck. The impact forces of right wing of the airplane striking the refueling truck spun the airplane to the right and the airplane's propeller struck the refueling truck causing substantial damage to the right wing and the propeller of the airplane and damage to the rear bumper and main storage tank of the refueling truck. The pilot was able to shut down the engine before the propeller ruptured the tank containing the aviation gasoline. There was no post crash fire and the pilot was not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9144H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9144H-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 17265972, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265972 - Airframe hours: 13438 - Engines: Lycoming O-32 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wright Flyers Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Wright Flyers Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2008, 53 hours before - Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: JCT, JUNCTION, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SAT, San Antonio Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSAT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080528837249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080528837249A), May 28, 2008: Cessna 172M, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) N9144H collided with a parked fuel truck on the wright flyers ramp, while taxiing to the active runway 12L after receiving clearance by ground control.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.