# NTSB LAX03LA144: Piper PA-28-181, N38137, Bullhead City, AZ, April 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2003, 10:59 local (17:59 UTC) - Place: Bullhead City, AZ - Coordinates: 34.8875, -114.62722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8875&lon=-114.6272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56938/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of distance resulting in the inadequate clearance between the wing tip and the fuel truck. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - vehicle - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While taxing to parking, the airplane collided with a parked fuel truck with the outboard 18 inches of the left wing. The pilot was taxing on the centerline, at a normal speed, and was not aware that the fuel truck was obstructing the taxi way. He said he "misjudged the distance" between the airplane and the fuel truck. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2003, at 1059 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N38137, collided with a fuel truck while taxing to parking at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona. National Air College, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual metrological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated at French Valley Airport, Murrieta, California, at 0930. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the fuel truck was parked with the operator inside the vehicle and no fueling was in progress. He stated that he was taxing at a normal taxi speed with the nose wheel on the centerline, and was not aware that the fuel truck was obstructing the taxi way. He said he "misjudged the distance" between the airplane and fuel truck, and the airplane struck the fuel truck with the outboard 18 inches of the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38137](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38137-2010-05-28), registration cancelled 2010-05-28, S/N 28-7790522 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790522 - Airframe hours: 8983.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: National Air College Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2003, 7 hours before - Departed: KF70, Murrieta, CA - Destination: KIFP, Bullhead City, AZ - Airport: IFP, Laughlin/Bullhead Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 8, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 53 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KIFP ## 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 20030425012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030425012579A), Apr 25, 2003: Piper PA28181, Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was taxiing to parking after landing and attempted to maneuver around a fuel truck. The left wing of the aircraft collided with the fuel tank.… ## Other investigations on N38137 (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 LAX07FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA219), Jul 14, 2007: Piper PA-28-181 (N38137), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt low altitude flight operations into a box canyon in mountainous terrain, and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering to… 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.