# NTSB WPR26LA122: Cessna 182M, N71518, Flagstaff, AZ, March 6, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 6, 2026, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Flagstaff, AZ - Coordinates: 35.137459, -111.67395 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1375&lon=-111.6740&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 202628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202628/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202628 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA122 ## Probable cause Maintenance personnel’s decision to conduct an engine run at takeoff power in front of an active taxiway, and their failure to notify ATC, which resulted in the accident pilot’s loss of control during taxi due to an encounter with a jet blast. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Policy/procedure: adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015): Organizational issues › Management · Airport; cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: ramp facilities](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017055): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017055/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017055/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072728), [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); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the Cessna 182 reported that he had been cleared by air traffic control (ATC) to taxi to the runway for departure. During taxi down the airport’s only taxiway to the runway, the airplane encountered a jet blast from a parked CRJ 700. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator of the CRJ 700 reported that the airplane had just undergone repairs and their mechanics were functional testing the engines at takeoff power. The mechanics did not move the airplane away from the passenger terminal and did not notify ATC of their intent to perform the engine run. After the mechanics had brought both engines to takeoff power, the Cessna 182 taxied behind the CRJ 700 and encountered the jet blast. The Airport Planning Manual for the CRJ 700 identifies zones and distances that should be considered dangerous during engine operation. With maximum thrust set on one engine, the airplane can produce 60 mph jet blast 290 ft away from the engine. The estimated distance between the Cessna 182 and CRJ 700 was 240 ft at the time of the accident. According to the operator of the CRJ 700, the mechanics were required to contact ATC before beginning ground engine runs. The airport manager stated that there were no policies or procedures indicating what areas of the airport were designated for high power engine runs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71518](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71518), registered now, S/N 18259650, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M - Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18259650 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 6758.22 - Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Northern Arizona 182 Flying Guys LLC - Registered owner: Northern Arizona 182 Flying Guys LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2025 - Airport: FLG, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 814.6 total, 701.9 in this make and model, 768.1 as pilot in command, 77.2 in the last 90 days, 36.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KFLG, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KFLG 061457Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR M02/M12 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP126 T10171117 51012 $ ## 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 20260306005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260306005179A), Mar 6, 2026: Cessna 182M, Flagstaff, AZ, Substantial damage. On March 6, 2026 at 0835 MST, a Cessna model 182, single engine airplane, was taxiing from the hangers at kflg to the runway for departure. The PIC was cleared… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202628. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20089481&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1.%206120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memoranda of record (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20429556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1.%20Memoranda%20of%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flg airport diagram (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20088635&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6.%20Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Crj 700 airport planning manual excerpt (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20323819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6.%20Airport%20Planning%20Manual%20CRJ%20700-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20429432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6.%20Investigation%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. --- 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.