# NTSB ERA26LA297: Cessna 172N, N6175G, Morgantown, WV, August 9, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2026, 19:03 local (23:03 UTC)
- Place: Morgantown, WV
- Coordinates: 39.641445, -79.916205 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6414&lon=-79.9162&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203559
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203559/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203559
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA297

## Probable cause

The fuel truck driver’s distraction and inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with an airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he had just landed on the runway and was instructed by the tower controller to exit the runway to the left and taxi to the hangars. After exiting the runway, he stopped past the hold short line to perform the after-landing checklist. While he was performing the checklist items, the airplane was struck from behind by a fuel truck, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s empennage, elevators, and fuselage. The fuel truck driver stated that he was looking at his phone while he was crossing the runway and when he looked up, he saw the airplane in front of him. He applied the truck’s brakes, but the truck struck the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6175G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6175G), registered now, S/N 17273574, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273574
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 5128
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2025
- Departed: mrb, Martinsburg, WV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MGW, Morgantown Municipal Airport, runway 18, 5,199 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 1, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 296 total, 286 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: MGW
- METAR: METAR KMGW 092253Z 23007KT 10SM FEW040 29/19 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP175 T02890189 $

## 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 20260809009099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260809009099A), Aug 9, 2026: Cessna 172N, Morgantown, WV, Substantial damage. On 08/09/2026 at approximately 19:00 EST. The accident aircraft landed on runway 18 at Morgantown, WV (kmgw). The aircraft exited the runway on taxiway…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203559. 40.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20808038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20787991&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Fuel truck driver written statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20787370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=fuel%20truck%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 528 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20787380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Airport surveillance video - fuel truck colliding with airplane (6 minutes, 21 seconds; MP4; 35MB) (item 5, MP4, 36.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20786619&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=2026-08-09_23-04-38_utc_south-terminal-ramp-facing-runway-Rel.mp4

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.

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