The flight instructor reported that, after landing at the airport in Nogales, Arizona, he gave the controls to the student to let him taxi to the ramp. After entering the ramp, the student taxied the Cessna 172 towards an unoccupied parking spot.
The instructor added that the student was taught to stop the plane perpendicular to the landing spot, shut down the engine, and use the tow bar to back the plane into the unoccupied spot, per company policy.
The instructor added that as the student passed a parked fuel truck adjacent the parking spot, he maneuvered the airplane into the parking spot instead of following company policy. During the left turn, the instructor saw that the left-wing tip was getting close to the truck, so he applied brakes and told the student to stop the airplane, but the left wing hit the truck.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar.
The student reported that he did not follow company policy.
The chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked fuel truck. Contributing to the accident were the student’s failure to follow company policy and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Perhaps should read “CFI hits fuel truck and blames student?” Weird “pilot academy training world;” this student had 258 hours (and not yet rated with 10 hours in a twin)? This CFI with only slightly more experience and reported only 27 hours dual given. Lack of adequate supervision here.
This May 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
