Piper PA 31-350 accident near Portland, Oregon, November 17, 2015
On November 17, 2015 at about 2:35 am local time, a 1973 Piper PA 31-350, registered N555RG, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Portland, Oregon (Portland Intl airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 failure of the fuel truck driver to see and avoid the taxiing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2015 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · Portland Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 31-350, built 1973 · all PA 31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N555RG · registry record · serial 31-7305103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after landing during dark rainy night conditions, he exited the runway on taxiway E and contacted the ground controller. The controller instructed the pilot to taxi via E and E4 to the ramp. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to taxi south on E and made a left turn onto E4. On E4 the airplane's left wing was struck by a fuel truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the local Police Department report, the fuel truck driver reported that he was driving on the south perimeter road and came to a stop at the stop sign for about 15 seconds. The driver continued to cross the intersection at about 5 miles per hour, and drove into the airplane. The fuel truck driver reported that he did not see the airplane.
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 (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Flight service personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,012 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,916 as pilot in command; 1,313 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 10, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25,463.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 10, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B (piston); 6,481 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B (piston); 11,530 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflight LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: LMT Klamath Falls OR
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from KPDX, 1 miles away
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.