Cessna 172 N5322P

Summary

On 29 July 2016 at about 20:17 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5322P was involved in an accident near Morristown, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 July 2016 at 20:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Morristown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Morristown Muni (MMU)

Coordinates

40.2985, -74.5210

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N5322P

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morristown → Teterboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA400

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain a safe taxi distance from a large turbine-powered airplane, resulting in an encounter of the turbine-powered airplane's jet blast while taxiing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a light single-engine airplane reported that while on a taxiway under air traffic control (ATC) instruction the airplane encountered jet blast, originating from a larger turbine-powered airplane being marshaled by ground personnel. Subsequently, the airplane's empennage lifted and the propeller and left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Information Manual in part 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."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.