On June 23, 1995, a Piper J-5A (registration N40888) operated by Wausau Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Wausau, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the airplane and the fuel pumps while taxiing in a congested area. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot experienced a collision between the right main landing gear and wing strut with fuel pumps while taxiing near a refueling island in a congested area.
What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft in a congested environment adjacent to a refueling island. During the taxiing phase of the flight, the airplane's right main landing gear and the associated wing strut made contact with fuel pumps situated on the island.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed significant structural damage to the airframe. The right wing strut was found to be bent. Additionally, a crack was identified in the right wing spar specifically at the jury strut attachment point.
Findings
The incident resulted from the aircraft's right-side landing gear and support structure colliding with ground-based fueling equipment. The primary contributing factor was the proximity of the taxi path to stationary infrastructure within a congested area.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the airplane and the fuel pumps while taxiing in a congested area.