N22905

Substantial
None

Cessna 172S/N: 17264078

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, December 15, 2019
NTSB Number
ANC20CA014
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Event ID
20200114X55301
Coordinates
35.741111, 139.346664
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The airplane’s encounter with prop wash while taxiing behind a larger airplane that was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to inform the smaller airplane’s pilot about the larger airplane pilot’s intentions.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17264078
Engine Type
4-cycle
Year Built
1974
Model / ICAO
172C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172M

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
YOKOTA FLIGHT TRAINING CENTER
Address
374 FSS/FSBA BLDG 4304
UNIT 5119
City
APO
State / Zip Code
AP 96328-5119
Country
United States

Analysis

The Aero Club operations chief reported that, the flight instructor and pilot were on a taxiway under air traffic control (ATC) instruction, the airplane encountered prop wash, originating from a larger (twin engine) turbine-powered airplane performing a maintenance engine(s) run-up. The maintenance run-up was performed in a location adjacent to the active taxiway. The light single-engine airplane was not told by ATC at any time during their taxi of the larger turbine-powered airplane's intentions. Subsequently, the light single-engine airplane was blown from its location while taxing behind the larger turbine-powered airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the forward wing-spar.

The Aero Club operations chief reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot of the larger turbine-powered airplane reported that, all requests for engine start, taxi, and high power runs were coordinated with ATC. He added that they had to reposition due to tailwinds, however a radio call was made to ATC and acknowledged that they had repositioned on the ramp to face into the wind. He added that he heard the light single-engine airplane receive a taxi clearance but did not hear any communications questioning the larger turbine-powered airplane's status or position with respect to any potential impact on aircraft taxiing behind them on the taxiway. He became aware of the light single-engine airplane's situation after the event when the pilot of the light single-engine airplane made a radio call to ground control.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC20CA014