NTSB Factual Report

On January 26, 2002, at 1540 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N172P, was substantially damaged when it collided with a parked fuel truck while taxing at Doylestown Airport, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot had just landed after a solo flight and was taxing back to the fixed base operator (FBO) to pick up his instructor. In a written statement, he said:

"..I was taxiing back to the FBO when about 10 people started crossing the taxiway. I stopped, letting the people through. From where I stopped I thought I could clear the fuel truck. I continued after the people passed. I was about 1-foot to the left of the centerline and as I passed the truck I felt the airplane hit and suddenly swing into the side of the truck. After the collision, I shut down the airplane as fast as possible."

In a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector said that the airplane's right wing tip clipped the truck's right rear view mirror. The airplane then pivoted to the right, and the spinner and propeller collided with the side of the truck. The inboard section of the right wing exhibited extensive wrinkling on the top and bottom surfaces.

The student pilot reported a total of 27.9 flight hours in single-engine aircraft, of which 1.3 hours were solo. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

Additionally, when asked how this accident could have been prevented, the student pilot said: "Moving more away from the truck and paying more attention to where the truck is."

Weather reported at the airport at the time of the accident included clear skies and wind from 240 degrees at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the airplane and a parked fuel truck while taxing.