# NTSB ERA24LA062: Cessna 172M, N955PT, Miami, FL, December 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 8, 2023, 12:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL · On Taxiway Delta
- Coordinates: 25.649375, -80.436578 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6494&lon=-80.4366&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: 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): 193509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193509/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193509
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA062

## Probable cause

The business jet flight crew’s failure to appropriately position their airplane to mitigate the impact of their extended duration, high-power engine run, and their failure to adequately communicate these factors to air traffic control, which resulted in the accident airplane encountering their jet blast while taxiing.

## Findings

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

- [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/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 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight crew of a business jet airplane had taxied to a runup area on the airport after their airplane had been over-fueled, as they needed to burn off the excess fuel before they could depart. The crew did not otherwise specifically advise air traffic control that they would be performing a high-power engine run for an extended duration. The exhaust of the business jet’s engines was directed toward a taxiway that passed behind the runup area. The flight instructor and student pilot onboard the accident airplane reported that, as they taxied toward the runup area and behind the business jet, their airplane was blown across the taxiway by the jet blast from the business jet, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing when it contacted the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N955PT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N955PT), registered now, S/N 17264573, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264573
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 14322
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot Training Center LLC
- Registered owner: Pilot Training Center LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: TMB, Miami Executive Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,557 total, 870 in this make and model, 1,481 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 30 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: TMB
- METAR: METAR KTMB 081653Z 10013G18KT 10SM SCT038 BKN048 26/18 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP208 T02560178=

## 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 20231208020332A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231208020332A), Dec 8, 2023: Cessna 172M, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. This Cessna 172 operating on a 14 CFR part 141 training flight sustained substantial damage from the jet blast of a twin turbine aircraft who was performing a…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193509. 450 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N955PT - flight instructor and student pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N955PT%20Flight%20Instructor%20and%20Student%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N955PT - attachment to flight instructor's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Diagram%20report%20N955PT-Rel.pdf
- N334JE - flight crew statements (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17236860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N334JE%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information provided by FAA inspector forest dodd (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Information%20Provided%20by%20Inspector%20Forest%20Dodd-Rel.pdf
- Chronological summary of flight (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Chronological%20Summary%20of%20Flight-Rel.pdf
- Ktmb ATC - audio recording (flight data and clearance delivery) (item 7, WAV, 141 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17236996&FileExtension=wav&FileName=TMB%20FD%20PTC955%20VJA334%20120823-Rel.wav
- Ktmb ATC - audio recording (ground control) (item 8, WAV, 299 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237314&FileExtension=wav&FileName=TMB%20GC%20PTC955%20VJA334%2012_8_23-Rel.wav
- Ktmb - airport diagram (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17272201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=KTMB%20-%20Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 10, PDF, 2 pages, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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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