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August 3, 2021 · Cessna 172 · N6778A

Iron Mountain, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 2021
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Iron Mountain, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 172 (1956)
Tail Number
N6778A
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN21LA388

The pilot landed the Cessna 172 at the nontowered airport and taxied toward parking. As the Cessna 172 passed about 200 ft behind a Bombardier CRJ-200 parked on the ramp, two mechanics onboard the CRJ-200 were conducting a maintenance test and were not aware of the Cessna 172. The mechanics increased the CRJ-200’s engine power, and jet blast lifted the Cessna 172’s tail, which resulted in the Cessna 172 nosing down and sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The mechanics did not follow several of the operator’s procedures for high-thrust maintenance operations at a nontowered airport, including notifying airport management personnel of high-thrust operations, selecting the most appropriate location on the airport, and actively communicating high-thrust intentions on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency. Their failure to follow these procedures led to their performing high-thrust operations near a taxiing airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The mechanics’ failure to follow procedures for high-thrust operations at the nontowered airport, which resulted in jet blast damage to an airplane taxiing nearby.

Full Narrative

On August 3, 2021, about 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6778A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Ford Airport (IMT), Iron Mountain, Michigan. The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported he landed at IMT, a nontowered airport, and taxied toward parking. As the pilot passed about 200 ft behind a parked Bombardier CRJ-200, he noted that cones were placed around the CRJ-200 and the airplane’s beacon was rotating, but no marshal or spotter was on the ramp. Two mechanics were conducting a maintenance test on the CRJ-200 and were not aware of the taxiing Cessna 172. The mechanics did not announce an intention on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency to increase engine power. After engine power was increased, jet blast lifted the Cessna 172’s tail, which resulted in the Cessna 172 nosing down and sustaining substantial damage to the left wing when it contacted the ground. The mechanics did not comply with the operator’s procedures for high-thrust maintenance operations at a non-towered airport. The procedures included notification of airport management personnel of high-thrust operations, selecting the most appropriate location on the airport, and actively communicating intentions on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency. Following the accident, the operator reinforced training and communications to mechanics on the risks of high-thrust maintenance operations at nontowered airports.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 CDT
Nearest AirportFORD (1nm N)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN6778A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · 0-300 SER · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class · Minor
Crew 2Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.99 inHg
Observation Time11:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data