# NTSB WPR22LA143: Cessna 172G, N3901L, Van Nuys, CA, April 2, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2022, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.2185, -118.4922
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2185&lon=-118.4922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082); [Taxi-into takeoff position: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104897/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104897
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA143

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

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

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot, aircraft 2; cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B16, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1390009), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-into takeoff position: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=1390009), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

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 1

- Registration: [N3901L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3901L), registered now, S/N 17254070 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17254070
- Year built: 1966
- Engines: 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N604RM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N604RM), registered now, S/N 5441, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B16
- Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B16](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b16) (registry code 1390009) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5441
- Year built: 2000
- Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N3901L; age 31; injuries: none; 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
- Student pilot, aircraft N3901L; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only
- Pilot, aircraft N604RM; age 65; injuries: none; 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=

## Other investigations on N3901L (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR25LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA098), Feb 18, 2025: Cessna 172 (N3901L), Oxnard, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104897. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13945960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20143_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N304RM pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13622303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INTERVIEW%20SUMMARY-William%20Geiser-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13945970&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Flight%20Instructor%20143-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13622462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INTERVIEW%20SUMMARY-Taylor%20East-Rel.pdf
- Airport diagram with location of airplanes depicted by CFI (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13946046&FileExtension=PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram%20143-Rel.PDF
- Excerpt of jet blast velocity from Bombardier (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13954593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20AIFM95-06%20-%20CL-600%20CF-34%20Jet%20Blast%20Velocity-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13622114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20143-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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