# NTSB GAA18CA360: Cessna 172, N98395, Salem, IL, June 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 14, 2018, 14:17 local (19:17 UTC) - Place: Salem, IL - Coordinates: 38.64389, -88.964721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6439&lon=-88.9647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA360 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a pole while taxiing the airplane on the ramp. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, after landing, he taxied the airplane to the ramp to get fuel. While in front of the fuel tank, he repositioned the airplane with a 360° turn. During a second attempt to reposition the airplane, the right wing struck a nearby pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, after landing, he taxied the airplane to the ramp to get fuel. While in front of the fuel tank he repositioned the airplane with a 360° turn. During a second attempt to reposition the airplane the right wing struck a nearby pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98395](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98395), registered now, S/N 17276285, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276285 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 12436 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Illinois University DBA - Registered owner: Southern Illinois University DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 5, 2018 - Departed: MDH, Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL - Destination: SLO, Salem, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SLO, Salem-Leckrone - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59 total, 9 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSLO ## 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 20180614000339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180614000339A), Jun 14, 2018: Cessna 172P, Salem, IL, Substantial damage. Narrative: On June 14th, 2018 at 1417 local time a student pilot taxied a Cessna 172 into a light pole positioned near the fuel pump at the Salem-Leckrone… ## Other investigations on N98395 (2) 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 CHI03LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA212), Jul 14, 2003: Cessna 172P (N98395), Pinckneyville, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The planned approach not maintained by the pilot and the delayed remedial action by the certified flight instructor. A contributing factor to the accident was the approach light. - [NTSB CHI89LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA007), Oct 9, 1988: Cessna 172 (N98395), Carbondale, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97520. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466745&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.PDF 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.