# NTSB GAA18CA588: Cessna 172, N969RR, Chicago, IL, July 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 17, 2018, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 42.114166, -87.901664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1142&lon=-87.9017&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 September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA588 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99311/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99311 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA588 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a truck while taxiing. ## 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: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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 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, during taxi to the runway, he saw a fuel truck parked in the grass on the left side of the asphalt taxilane. He added that he "assumed that the truck driver had left room for airplanes to get by"; however, as the airplane passed the truck, its left wing struck the rear of the truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during taxi to the runway, he saw a fuel truck parked in the grass on the left side of the asphalt taxilane. He "assumed that the truck driver had left room for airplanes to get by," however, as the airplane passed the truck, and the left wing struck the rear of the truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N969RR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N969RR), registered now, S/N 17275850, built 1982 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275850 - Year built: 1982 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N969rr Llc - Registered owner: N969rr Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: PWK, Chicago, IL - Destination: PWK, Chicago, IL - Airport: PWK, Chicago Executive - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28.2 total, 28.2 in this make and model, 0.4 as pilot in command, 20.2 in the last 90 days, 4.9 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KPWK ## 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 20180717021879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180717021879A), Jul 17, 2018: Cessna 172P, Wheeling, IL, Substantial damage. On July 17, 2018, the pilot in command (PIC) of N969RR, a Cessna C172 aircraft, was taxiing to depart Chicago Executive Airport, IL (pwk). The weather was not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99311. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Safety Measure Requirements - Chicago Executive Airport (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Safety%20Measure%20Requirements%20-%20Chicago%20Executive%20Airport-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.