The flight instructor and the student pilot were practicing crosswind takeoffs and landings at the airport in Orangeburg, S.C.
After completing two successful landings, the student pilot was taxiing back to the runway when the Cessna 172 drifted to the right and the right wing hit a fuel truck parked next to the taxiway.
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.
The flight instructor told investigators that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a fuel truck while taxiing. Also contributing was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the student pilot.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This October 2023 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.
Looking at the damage, I believe 5 feet off the taxiway centerline is a lot but even then, why was the fuel truck parked so close to the taxiway?
According to the then-81-year-old CFI’s narrative, they were “Taxiing for third circuit from Runway 23 aircraft drifted right with wingtip striking rail on ladder of fuel truck parked beside the taxiway. Aircraft turned 90 degrees right.”
In their…defense…they didn’t drift off the side of a separate parallel taxiway and hit the truck.
The parallel taxiway (“A”) for Rwy 23 at KOGB loops through a parking ramp near the approach end.
Fuel trucks park in marked spots along the edge of the tarmac in close proximity to the taxiway ‘line’.
Glad they walked away unharmed.
My “Pulse of Aviation” email from General Aviation News shows a teaser for the stories:
“Largest all-electric fuel truck unveiled”
followed by
“Student hits fuel truck”.
I’m thinking that the fuel truck was simply too large.
Let’s park this fuel truck near this taxiway. But first let me adjust my suspenders.
And hand me my banjo.
Oh no. Maybe the same issue as when two instructors are flying together – the tendency to rely on the other to fix a deviation.
Unfortunate, but it happens too much! BTW the CFI is PIC and responsible for the accident, unfortunate for him.