# NTSB GAA15CA167: Cessna 170B, N170MW, Durango, CO, June 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2015, 13:32 local (19:32 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.203056, -107.869163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2031&lon=-107.8692&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91518 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91518/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91518 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA167 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to taxi behind a turbojet airplane into jet blast, which resulted in the airplane being blown off an active taxiway and flipped upside down onto terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072306), [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 170B, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the single engine airplane reported that while taxiing to his hangar after landing, a regional jet was stopped on the active taxiway blocking his intended path. The pilot of the airplane radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency and asked the regional jet to, "move up so he could taxi behind", in order to proceed to his hangar. The jet Captain responded with "Standby" and then rolled forward and stopped. The pilot of the airplane continued his taxi, but as the airplane approached the rear of the jet, the jet blast blew the airplane off the taxiway and flipped the airplane upside down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Information Manual, section 7-3-1(b) states, "During ground operations and during takeoff, jet engine blast (thrust stream turbulence) can cause damage and upsets if encountered at close range. Exhaust velocity versus distance studies at various thrust levels have shown a need for light aircraft to maintain an adequate separation behind large turbojet aircraft. Pilots of larger aircraft should be particularly careful to consider the effects of their "jet blast" on other aircraft, vehicles, and maintenance equipment during ground operations." ## Factual narrative The pilot of the single engine airplane reported that while taxiing to his hangar after landing, a regional jet was stopped on the active taxiway blocking his intended path. The pilot of the airplane radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency and asked the regional jet to, "move up so he could taxi behind", in order to proceed to his hangar. The jet Captain responded with "Standby" and then rolled forward and stopped. The pilot of the airplane continued his taxi, but as the airplane approached the rear of the jet, the jet blast blew the airplane off the taxiway and flipped the airplane upside down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Information Manual, section 7-3-1(b) states, "During ground operations and during takeoff, jet engine blast (thrust stream turbulence) can cause damage and upsets if encountered at close range. Exhaust velocity versus distance studies at various thrust levels have shown a need for light aircraft to maintain an adequate separation behind large turbojet aircraft. Pilots of larger aircraft should be particularly careful to consider the effects of their "jet blast" on other aircraft, vehicles, and maintenance equipment during ground operations." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N170MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N170MW), registered now, S/N 25411, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25411 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 4141.1 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2015, 100 hours before - Departed: 00C, Durango, CO - Destination: DRO, Durango, CO - Airport: DRO, Durango-La Plata County, runway 21, 9,201 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: DRO ## 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 20150628008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628008989A), Jun 28, 2015: Cessna 170B, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. On June 29, 2015, the pilot of a Cessna 170 landed his aircraft at Durango, CO. Airport and taxied off the runway. A CRJ-700 was holding short on the taxiway… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91518. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photograph 1: Substantial damage to left wing (Courtesy of pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 707 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20left%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-Master.PDF - Photograph 2: Substantial damage to left wing (Courtesy of pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 536 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%202%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20left%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-Master.PDF - Photograph 3: Substantial damage to right wing (Courtesy of pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%203%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-Master.PDF - Photograph 4: Substantial damage to firewall (Courtesy of pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%204%3A%20Substantial%20damage%20to%20firewall%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-Master.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.