# NTSB ERA23LA104: Cessna 172N, N2354E, Opa-locka, FL, January 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 3, 2023, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Opa-locka, FL - Coordinates: 25.911205, -80.265358 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9112&lon=-80.2654&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106551/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106551 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA104 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s decision to taxi behind a large multi-engine airplane, which resulted in an encounter with propeller blast and a loss of airplane control on the ground. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the taxi for takeoff in a non-movement area, he and his student noticed a large multi-radial-engine airplane near their intended taxi route. The instructor told the student to deviate from the painted taxiway yellow line to provide for additional distance away from the prop wash behind the larger airplane. Subsequently, as their taxi continued behind the other airplane, the accident airplane started “violently shaking,” the right wing lifted, and the left wing contacted the taxiway surface. The nose also tipped forward, which resulted in the propeller striking the ground. The flight instructor shut off the engine, however, he estimated the airplane was pushed by the propeller blast an additional 100 ft further until eventually stopping upright on all three landing gear. The left wing sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot of the larger airplane, there had been delays for departure clearances and he had positioned his airplane into the wind while waiting, which resulted in the tail and the engines propeller blast oriented towards the taxiway the accident airplane taxied through. He stated that at the time that the event occurred, his airplane was at flight idle, and he was not performing a run-up. He did not know anything had happened to the accident airplane, until he heard of a propeller strike announced over the radio. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2354E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2354E), registered now, S/N 172-72777, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-72777 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7210 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skyduo Flight Academy LLC., doing business as Skyduo Flight Academy - Registered owner: A&N Flight School Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OPF, Miami-Opa Locka Exec - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 20; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 312 total, 275 in this make and model, 225 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: OPF, 1 nm away - METAR: SPECI KOPF 031733Z 12014KT 10SM SCT027 BKN034 BKN043 28/21 A3015 RMK AO2 T02830206= ## 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 20230103002259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230103002259A), Jan 3, 2023: Cessna 172N, Opa Locka, FL, Minor damage. Aircraft #1 was taxing on taxilane b towards spot 2, it taxied behind aircraft #2 that was parked, pointing away from spot 2 at the FAR end of taxilane b area.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106551. 8.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15420600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15421379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15421738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot of convair) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15421535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20of%20Convair)-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15420610&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA23LA104-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. --- 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.