N23831

On August 2, 1997, about 1150 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N23831, was substantially damaged while taxiing for departure at Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which originated at Manassas. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was planned to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident report, the pilot stated:

"I was taxiing on ramp centerline and noted a fuel truck fueling a parked aircraft. The truck was about 16' to the right of the ramp center line. I misjudged the distance and my right wing tip struck the truck right head lamp before I time to react. The plane spun around on the wing axis and the propeller struck the rear wheel area of the truck."

In a telephone interview, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the accident occurred in a "non-movement" area used for airplane parking. The pilot had taxied with the engine operating about 1,000 RPM. The airplane's propeller struck the truck several times; however, there was no fuel leakage. The right wing was bent rearward, with the trailing edge of the right wing pushed into the fuselage about 6 inches.

Additionally, the FAA inspector reported that at the time of the accident, the fuel truck driver was on the opposite side of the truck refueling an airplane. The driver received minor injuries to his hand as he extracted his hand from the refueling nozzle. In addition, when he turned and ran, he fell and injured a knee.

According to FAA records, the pilot had received her private pilot certificate on July 22, 1997. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report report, she listed her total time as 123 hours, with 31 hours as pilot-in-command.