NTSB Factual Report

On June 20, 2002, at 0920 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4808F, collided with a fuel truck while taxiing off the runway after landing at the Crystal Airport (MIC), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The student pilot and the driver of the fuel truck were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The CFR 14 Part 91 student solo flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at the Crystal Airport at 0830.

According to the pilot's written statement, after landing on runway 24R, she taxied to the end of the runway. The pilot reported she stopped and requested taxi instructions from the control tower because a fuel truck was on taxiway F driving toward the aircraft. The pilot reported, "I was told immediately by the control tower to exit the runway. I turned left onto taxiway F toward the fuel truck, stopped, and then communicated back to tower to clarify the situation. The control tower communicated back to me about the problem with stopping at the end of the runway ... without addressing the truck being on the taxiway at the same time. The fuel truck pulled off of the taxiway to the northeast side and onto the grass. In passing the fuel truck the left wing hit an extension on the end of the truck about 6 inches from the end of the plane's wing."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot did not maintain clearance from the vehicle while taxiing. A factor was the fuel truck.