# NTSB NYC97LA164: Piper PA-38-112, N23831, Manassas, VA, August 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1997, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Location: 38.7230° N, 77.5154° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Washington Manassas Harry P. Davis Field (HEF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7230&lon=-77.5154&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39419 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39419/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA164 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of clearance between the aircraft and fuel truck, which resulted in a collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While taxiing, the pilot misjudged the clearance of her right wing to a parked fuel truck that was ahead and to the right of her. The right wing tip struck the fuel truck, and the airplane pivoted into the fuel truck. The pilot was not injured, but a person refueling an airplane on the other side of the fuel truck received minor injuries while trying to escape from the scene. The right wing was bent rearward during the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 1997, about 1150 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N23831, was substantially damaged while taxiing for departure at Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which originated at Manassas. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was planned to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident report, the pilot stated: "I was taxiing on ramp centerline and noted a fuel truck fueling a parked aircraft. The truck was about 16' to the right of the ramp center line. I misjudged the distance and my right wing tip struck the truck right head lamp before I time to react. The plane spun around on the wing axis and the propeller struck the rear wheel area of the truck." In a telephone interview, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the accident occurred in a "non-movement" area used for airplane parking. The pilot had taxied with the engine operating about 1,000 RPM. The airplane's propeller struck the truck several times; however, there was no fuel leakage. The right wing was bent rearward, with the trailing edge of the right wing pushed into the fuselage about 6 inches. Additionally, the FAA inspector reported that at the time of the accident, the fuel truck driver was on the opposite side of the truck refueling an airplane. The driver received minor injuries to his hand as he extracted his hand from the refueling nozzle. In addition, when he turned and ran, he fell and injured a knee. According to FAA records, the pilot had received her private pilot certificate on July 22, 1997. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report report, she listed her total time as 123 hours, with 31 hours as pilot-in-command. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23831](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23831), registered now, S/N 38-79A1057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-79A1057 - Airframe hours: 4021 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Manassas Aviation Center Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1997, 61 hours before - Departed: HEF - Destination: JYO, LEESBURG, VA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: HEF, Manassas Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 123 total, 117 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IAD, 14 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 19970802047079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970802047079A), Aug 2, 1997: Piper PA38112, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot failed to maintain clearance from fuel truck. Pilot stated she thought the right wing tip would clear fuel truck. However, right wing tip struck… 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.