Piper PA-28-181 N418PA accident near Phoenix, Arizona

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

NTSB analysis

After landing, the student pilot was cleared to taxi to the ramp area at his flight school. The student pilot stated that he was taxiing along the taxiway centerline and nearing the ramp area when he observed an airplane holding at an adjacent ramp area. He said that while taxiing in front of the airplane he did not think there was enough room to safely pass, so he maneuvered his airplane to the right to avoid the other airplane. After passing the airplane, the right wing tip hit a parked fuel truck. The airplane yawed to the right, contacted two other parked trucks, and came to a stop. The damage was reported to the NTSB approximately one month after the accident, following the identification of structural damage to the right wing leading edge and rear carry through spar.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA084 for the full record.