# NTSB DEN03TA103: Cessna R172E, N7867N, Albuquerque, NM, June 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 12, 2003, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35, -106.60028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0000&lon=-106.6003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03TA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57209/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03TA103 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadvertent encounter with the jet blast and the subsequent inability to maintain aircraft control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suction, taxi - to takeoff - propeller/jet blast encounter - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot was taxiing towards a taxiway intersection when the airplane began to be pushed left. The student pilot attempted to correct the drift by putting in right aileron, but the airplane continued to the left. The airplane tipped to the left and forward resting momentarily on its left wing tip, bending the wing spar rearward. After the event, the student pilot noticed an MD-80 to his right that had just pushed back from the gate and was beginning its taxi. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2003, at approximately 1140 mountain daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N7867N, was substantially damaged when the left wing struck the asphalt taxiway following an encounter with a jet blast from an MD-80 while taxiing for takeoff at Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The student pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The United States Air Force, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country training flight that was originating at the time of the accident. According to the student pilot, he had just finished opening his flight plan with Albuquerque Flight Service Station. He called ABQ Ground Control for taxi clearance and was instructed to taxi to Runway 8 and to follow an Air Tractor. The student pilot reported that after he crossed runway 35 and was approaching the taxiway intersection "A3," the airplane "began getting pushed to the left." The student pilot said he applied right aileron. The airplane continued to veer to the left. The student pilot stated he "applied additional right aileron" and "brakes." The airplane continued to roll, "resting momentarily on the left wingtip with the propeller striking the taxiway." An examination of the airplane revealed the left wing spar was bent aft. No other anomalies were found. After the event, the student pilot noticed an American Airlines MD-80, flight 1712, to his right that had just pushed back from its gate, B1, and was beginning to taxi. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7867N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7867N), registered now, S/N R172-0258, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0258 - Airframe hours: 14366 - Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kirtland Flight Center - Registered owner: United States Air Force - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 29, 2003, 23 hours before - Departed: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: SAF, SANTA FE, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## 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 20030612012489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030612012489A), Jun 12, 2003: Cessna R172E, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 12, 2003 at 1140 MDT, a Cessna T-41C, N7867N registered to united states air force, operated by kirtland afb aero club, tipped over onto the left… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.