Summary
On May 28, 2012, a Cessna 172P (N216AF) was involved in an incident near Hemet, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's failure to monitor and maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi.
The student pilot had just landed after completing a solo cross-country flight. He taxied the airplane, which was owned by a flight school, towards the ramp with the intention of using the restroom, and servicing the airplane with fuel. As he approached the fueling facility, he decided that he did not have sufficient time to get fuel, and still return the airplane within the allotted rental time, so he maneuvered the airplane to a parking area so he could perform a U-turn. After completing the turn, and while maneuvering the airplane back towards the taxi center line, he caught site of a lamp post to his left. He immediately applied brake and rudder control input, but the airplane skidded, and the left wing struck the pole.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR12CA260. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N216AF.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to monitor and maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The student pilot had just landed after completing a solo cross-country flight. He taxied the airplane, which was owned by a flight school, towards the ramp with the intention of using the restroom, and servicing the airplane with fuel. As he approached the fueling facility, he decided that he did not have sufficient time to get fuel, and still return the airplane within the allotted rental time, so he maneuvered the airplane to a parking area so he could perform a U-turn. After completing the turn, and while maneuvering the airplane back towards the taxi center line, he caught site of a lamp post to his left. He immediately applied brake and rudder control input, but the airplane skidded, and the left wing struck the pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aft wing spar during the impact sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR12CA260