Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

December 15, 2019 · Cessna 172 M · N22905

Tokyo, JP

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 15, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Tokyo, JP
Aircraft
Cessna 172 M (1974)
Tail Number
N22905
Operator
Yokota Aero Club
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC20CA014

The operator's operations chief reported that an air traffic controller instructed the flight instructor and pilot to taxi to a taxiway and that, subsequently, the airplane encountered prop wash from a larger airplane on the same taxiway, which flipped the airplane onto its right side and resulted in substantial damage to the forward wing spar. The larger airplane's pilot reported that he was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway. The air traffic controller did not tell the pilots in the smaller airplane at any time while they were taxiing about the larger airplane's intentions. The pilot of the larger airplane reported that all requests for engine start, taxi, and high-power engine runs were coordinated with air traffic control (ATC). He added that they had to reposition due to a tailwind and that he had made a radio call to ATC and acknowledged that they had repositioned on the ramp to face into the wind. He added that he heard the lighter airplane receive a taxi clearance but did not hear any communications questioning the larger airplane's status or position with respect to any potential impact on aircraft taxiing behind them on the taxiway. He became aware of the lighter airplane's situation after the event when its pilot made a radio call to ground control.

NTSB Probable Cause

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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:55
Nearest AirportYokota Air Base (2nm W)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172 M
Tail NumberN22905
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorYokota Aero Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 29 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 25 C
Altimeter30.32 inHg
Observation Time06:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data