# NTSB WPR13CA158: Cessna 172, N421ER, Gila Bend, AZ, March 20, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2013, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Gila Bend, AZ - Coordinates: 32.959999, -112.673614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9600&lon=-112.6736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA158 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an above-ground fuel tank while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp on the parking apron instead of the taxiway, he misjudged the airplane's wing distance from an above-ground fuel tank. The airplane’s left wing contacted the fuel tank and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp he misjudged the airplane's wing distance from the upper part of a fuel tank at the fueling station. The left wing contacted the tank and was substantially damaged. The pilot's taxi route was actually on the parking apron instead of the taxiway, which brought the airplane within close proximity to the fueling station. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N421ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N421ER), registered now, S/N 172S9679, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9679 - Airframe hours: 3790 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind School of Aeronautics - Registered owner: Westwind Aero Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2013, 50 hours before - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: E63, Gila Bend, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: E63, Gila Bend Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: BXK, 28 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 20130320003499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130320003499A), Mar 20, 2013: Cessna 172S, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. On 3/20/2013 the student pilot left deer valley airport (dvt) on a solo cross country flight to Gila Bend municipal (E63). After landing at 1000 he taxied on… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86489. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.