Piper PA-38-112 N2400P

Summary

On 18 July 2000 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N2400P, operated by Mazzei Flying Service, was involved in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2000 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Nearest airport

San Luis Obispo (SBP)

Coordinates

35.2494, -120.6199

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N2400P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mazzei Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fresno → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA270

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing to the runway, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid the fuel truck.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was taxiing from the ramp to the runway. Prior to releasing the parking brake to move out of the parking spot, he visually verified that there were no people or vehicles in the area. While conducting the brake check he looked down into the cockpit to verify that he had a standby option on his radio. He noted that he did not have a standby option and returned his attention to the outside of the airplane and started the airplane moving in a forward direction. When he looked up from inside the cockpit he saw a refueling truck had positioned itself outside of the yellow parking space line. He attempted to avoid the vehicle by engaging full left rudder and left brake; however, the right wingtip collided with the vehicle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.