Cessna 172I accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, January 23, 2015
On January 23, 2015 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 172I, registered N35560, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's lack of vigilance during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked truck. A factor in the accident was the truck operator's decision to park on the edge of an active taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2015 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I, built 1968 · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N35560 · registry record · serial 17256835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight school operator, the solo, student pilot was directed by air traffic control to taxi via taxiway Charlie and the inner ramp to the parking area. A fence construction company truck was parked on the edge of the active taxiway while the personnel inside the truck were having lunch. As the pilot taxied the airplane past the truck, while on the yellow taxi line, the left wing struck the upper cab of the truck. The pilot reported that she did not see the truck prior to the collision and it was parked in the shadow of a building. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. FAA Advisory Circular 91-73B, which provides guidance on single pilot taxi operations, states, "Situational Awareness (SA). When conducting taxi operations, pilots need to be aware of their proximity to other aircraft and vehicles moving on the airport."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Other/unknown
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,277 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 31, 2014; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 7,572 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORH Worcester MA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from ASH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.