# NTSB WPR11CA084: Piper PA-28-181, N418PA, Phoenix, AZ, December 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2010, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.685276, -112.081108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6853&lon=-112.0811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78099/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78099 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA084 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing, the student pilot was cleared to taxi to the ramp area at his flight school. The student pilot stated that he was taxiing along the taxiway centerline and nearing the ramp area when he observed an airplane holding at an adjacent ramp area. He said that while taxiing in front of the airplane he did not think there was enough room to safely pass, so he maneuvered his airplane to the right to avoid the other airplane. After passing the airplane, the right wing tip hit a parked fuel truck. The airplane yawed to the right, contacted two other parked trucks, and came to a stop. The damage was reported to the NTSB approximately one month after the accident, following the identification of structural damage to the right wing leading edge and rear carry through spar. ## Factual narrative After landing, the student pilot was cleared to taxi to the ramp area at his flight school. The student pilot stated that he was taxiing along the centerline and nearing the ramp area when he observed an airplane holding at an adjacent ramp area. He said that while taxiing in front of the airplane he did not think there was enough room to safely pass, so he maneuvered his airplane to the right to avoid the other airplane. After passing the airplane, the right wing tip hit a parked fuel truck. The airplane yawed to the right, contacted two other parked trucks, and came to a stop. The damage was reported to the NTSB on January 3, 2011, following the identification of structural damage to the right wing leading edge and rear carry through spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N418PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N418PA), registered now, S/N 2843414, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843414 - Airframe hours: 11602 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC, doing business as Transpac Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 4, 2010, 20 hours before - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20101208054009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101208054009A), Dec 8, 2010: Piper PA-28-181, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. At approximately 10:00 MST on December 8, 2010, N418PA, a Piper warrior, piloted by student pilot weiyi zhu, struck a parked fuel truck while maneuvering… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78099. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - 418PA Diagram (Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=418PA%20Diagram%20(Operator)-Master.PDF - Occurrence Report (Operator) (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Occurrence%20Report%20(Operator)-Redacted.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.