- Date
- January 11, 2004, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N67844Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040111001819A
- Case key
- 58646
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudgment of clearance from the vehicle while taxiing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with a fuel truck while taxing to parking. While taxiing on the ramp area, between rows of parked airplanes, the pilot noticed a parked fuel truck ahead of her on the left side. After deciding she had adequate clearance between the airplane and the fuel truck, she continued taxiing and momentarily glanced down at the airplane's checklist. She stated that she "incorrectly judged" the distance between the airplane and fuel truck, and the airplane struck the fuel truck with the outboard section of the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On January 11, 2004, about 1000 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N67844, collided with a fuel truck while taxing to parking at Montgomery Field (MYF), San Diego, California. The airplane, registered to and owned by a private individual, was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed MYF about 0915. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that she had completed several touch-and-go practice takeoff and landings and was taxiing back to the tie down area. While taxiing on the ramp area, between rows of parked airplanes, she noticed a parked fuel truck ahead of her on the left side. After deciding she had adequate clearance between the airplane and the fuel truck, she continued taxiing and momentarily glanced down at the airplane's checklist. She stated that she "incorrectly judged" the distance between the airplane and fuel truck, and the airplane struck the fuel truck with the outboard section of the left wing. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N67844
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282053
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jeffrey Adam Archuletta
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Destination
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery Field Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 110 in this make and model · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.