Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172H near Tucson, AZ — 2009-02-22

Final reportWPR09IA128
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Date
2009-02-22
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA
Airport
TUS
Aircraft
CESSNA 172H
Registration
N1408F
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate situational awareness while taxiing that led to an encounter with jet blast.

NTSB narrative

Following an uneventful landing, the student pilot and flight instructor were cleared to taxi the Cessna 172H to the ramp. While taxiing on a taxiway, parallel to an active runway, the flight instructor and student pilot observed a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 transport category airplane holding short of the runway. As the Cessna 172H neared the MD-80's position, the student pilot applied aileron control inputs for possible jet blast and deviated away from the MD-80, towards the inner ramp area. The flight instructor advised the student pilot to stop the airplane due to the MD-80 being positioned "farther back from the hold short line of 11L than initially thought and the presence of a Boeing 757 parked in the inner ramp area." As the Cessna 172H slowed to a stop, the MD-80 "increased engine thrust" to taxi onto the runway. Subsequently, the MD-80’s jet blast tipped the Cessna 172H over onto its right wing, which resulted in minor damage to the outboard wingtip. The tower controller reported that he began to clear the MD-80 for takeoff as he scanned the active runway to ensure all crossing aircraft were clear. The controller then "looked back” and saw the Cessna 172H taxiing behind the MD-80. The controller stated that he stopped issuing the takeoff clearance, however the MD-80 had already powered up.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Flight instructor could have advised the student to stop earlier to avoid the MD-80's jet blast.

NTSB coding

  • Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction · Taxi

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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