# NTSB CEN24LA117: Cessna 172, N6762A, San Marcos, TX, February 20, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2024, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: San Marcos, TX · Taxiway J
- Coordinates: 29.892992, -97.871242 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8930&lon=-97.8712&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193821/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193821
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA117

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient clearance from a large multi-engine airplane during taxi operations.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Airport personnel; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while he was approaching a taxiway intersection, a large, twin engine, turboprop airplane was undergoing a maintenance engine run on the adjacent run-up area. The propeller blast from the turboprop airplane lifted the left wing and tail of the airplane, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane’s fuselage, empennage, both wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the tower controller did not issue any cautionary advisories for the turboprop airplane activity to the pilot with the takeoff clearance.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6762A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6762A-2024-06-03), registration cancelled 2024-06-03, S/N 28862, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28862
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 7715.2
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2023
- Airport: HYI, San Marcos Rgnl
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 775 total, 312 in this make and model, 704 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: KHYI
- METAR: KHYI 202156Z AUTO 18011KT 10SM CLR 27/11 A3015 RMK AO2 SLPNO T02670111

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240220000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240220000989A), Feb 20, 2024: Cessna 172, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. On February 20, 2024, a Cessna 172 was cleared to taxi on taxi way c to j then to hold short at runway 17. Prior to his clearence another aircraft. A saab 340.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193821. 10.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17027885&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20-%20cen24la117_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17028978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Accident%20Summary%20Statement%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17028754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201%20cen24la117-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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