- Date
- April 2, 2022, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA
- Injuries
- 8 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suctionTaxi-into takeoff position: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA VNY FSDO
- Case key
- 104897
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient distance behind a jet airplane which, resulted in his loss of airplane control due to the jet airplane’s jet blast and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N3901L · Cessna 172G
N604RM · Bombardier CL-600-2B16
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N3901L · Cessna 172G
N604RM · Bombardier CL-600-2B16
Analysis
The student pilot and flight instructor taxied the Cessna 172 and stopped short of the displaced threshold runway behind a Bombardier Challenger awaiting their clearance for departure. A witness stated that the Cessna was about “2-wing spans” behind the Challenger and was in line with the jet thrust vector. Shortly after the pilot of the Challenger was cleared for takeoff, while still on the taxiway, with brakes applied, the pilot increased the engine power to about 80 to 90%, then released the brakes, and departed. The flight instructor of the Cessna reported that he cut the mixture and deflected the aileron control towards the Challenger’s jetbast, but the airplane lifted, and the left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted the runway. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations The Challenger pilot reported that he was not aware of anything unusual related to his takeoff, as he was not contacted by the local air traffic control tower.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3901L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254070
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Continental O-300, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- VNY · Van Nuys, runway 16R, 4,013 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N604RM
- Reported as
- Bombardier CL-600-2B16
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5441
- Built
- 2000
- Engines
- GE CF34 SERIES, 9,140 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF34 SERIES, 9,140 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Sanctus Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- Sanctus Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Destination
- PTK · Pontiac, MI
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 3
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3901L
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- April 28, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 1,270 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot, aircraft N3901L
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N604RM
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.99 inHg
- Observed at
- KVNY
- METAR
- METAR KVNY 022151Z 00000KT 10SM OVC023 18/11 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP151 T01780111=
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.
Other investigations on N3901L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.