| Crash location | 37.385833°N, 83.256944°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Hazard, KY
37.249540°N, 83.193228°W 10.0 miles away |
| Tail number | N1156U |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 15 Sep 2010 |
| Aircraft type | Mooney M20J |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the parking ramp after landing, and the self-serve fuel pump was "clearly visible" on the right side of the airplane. As the airplane approached the fuel pump, the pilot reached over to open the cabin door and sneezed twice. The airplane "drifted right," and the right wing impacted the fuel pump, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. Two witnesses who observed the accident reported that the airplane was taxiing "fast" and "quickly" respectively. Review of security camera footage revealed that there were no obstructions in the immediate vicinity of the fuel pump. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fuel pump while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention.