# NTSB LAX99LA017: Cessna 152, N5550L, Palo Alto, CA, October 18, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1998, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.44944, -122.099227 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4494&lon=-122.0992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45150/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA017

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the airplane's wing and a parked 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
  - object - vehicle
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot was on her first solo cross-country flight.  She was following the yellow taxiway centerline at her base airport between two rows of parked aircraft.  A fuel truck was parked in front of an aircraft conducting a refueling operation and the student misjudged the wing tip clearance from the truck.  The right wing collided with the unoccupied fuel truck.

## Factual narrative

On October 18, 1998, at 1330 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5550L, collided with a parked fuel truck while taxiing to parking following landing at the Palo Alto, California, airport.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the solo cross-country instructional flight.  The aircraft was operated by the Palo Alto Flying Club under 14 CFR Part 91, and rented by the student pilot for the flight.  The aircraft sustained substantial wing damage, and the unoccupied fuel truck had minor damage.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.

An officer of the flying club reported that this was the first solo cross-country for the primary student.  She was following the yellow taxiway centerline between two rows of parked aircraft.  A fuel truck was parked in front of an aircraft conducting a refueling operation and the student misjudged the wing clearance from the truck.

The pilot reported that while taxiing back for the completion of her first cross-country flight she was watching the yellow centerline when the wingtip of the aircraft hit a fuel truck that was parked in front of an airplane.

The accident was reported to the Safety Board on October 28, 1998, following damage assessment by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5550L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5550L-2006-01-20), registration cancelled 2006-01-20, S/N 15284352, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284352
- Airframe hours: 6595
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L26 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Palo Alto Flying Club
- Registered owner: Desai Paresh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 1998
- Destination: PAO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 78 total, 75 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJC, 10 nm away

## 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 19981018047279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981018047279A), Oct 18, 1998: Cessna 152, Palo Alto, CA, No damage. (-23) Ms. Verdugo was taxiing to the aircraft tie down after a cross country flight and the aircraft's right wing struck a parked fuel truck. Damage to ribs…

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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