Piper PA-38-112 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, July 18, 2000
On July 18, 2000 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2400P, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing to the runway, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid the fuel truck.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2000 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2400P · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing from the ramp to the runway. Prior to releasing the parking brake to move out of the parking spot, he visually verified that there were no people or vehicles in the area. While conducting the brake check he looked down into the cockpit to verify that he had a standby option on his radio. He noted that he did not have a standby option and returned his attention to the outside of the airplane and started the airplane moving in a forward direction. When he looked up from inside the cockpit he saw a refueling truck had positioned itself outside of the yellow parking space line. He attempted to avoid the vehicle by engaging full left rudder and left brake; however, the right wingtip collided with the vehicle.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,931 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 7, 2000; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SBP CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 129°F (54°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from SBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.