No fatalities

Airplane Collides with Stationary Fuel Truck During Taxi

San Diego, CA, United States

On July 8, 2016, a CESSNA 172 N was involved in an aviation accident near San Diego, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain situational awareness while taxiing, which resulted in an impact with a stationary fuel truck. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane struck a stationary fuel truck while taxiing in a non-movement area, causing substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Incident Overview During taxiing for takeoff in a non-movement area, the right wing of an airplane collided with a stationary fuel truck. The pilot reported that the impact occurred while the aircraft was moving through the designated area. ## Damage Assessment The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing as a result of the collision. No other specific damage details were provided in the source. ## Mechanical Condition According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. This indicates that the aircraft was in a condition suitable for normal operation prior to the incident.

Contributing factors

PilotAwareness of condition

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Jul 2016 CESSNA 172 N accident near San Diego, CA?

An airplane struck a stationary fuel truck while taxiing in a non-movement area, causing substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Jul 2016 CESSNA 172 N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Jul 2016 involved a CESSNA 172 N, at San Diego, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain situational awareness while taxiing, which resulted in an impact with a stationary fuel truck.