San Antonio Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Antonio, Texas 78232
Friday, April 27, 2007 21:27 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The single-engine airplane was blown over by the jet blast of a departing twin-turbine powered airliner while taxing. The single-engine airplane had been instructed by the ATC ground controller to taxi to a parking area via a taxiway that crossed behind the waiting airliner. Meanwhile, the scheduled airliner was issued a takeoff clearance. As the airliner powered-up to enter the active runway for departure, the jet blast rolled the single-engine airplane over to an inverted position. The private pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. The single-engine airplane's right wing sustained structural damage. The airliner, unaware of what had occurred, departed the airport. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, chapter 7, paragraph 7-3-8 a, "...the flight disciplines necessary to ensure vortex avoidance during VFR operations must be exercised by the pilot." According to FAA order 7110.65R, ground controllers are to "Use caution when taxiing smaller aircraft/helicopters in the vicinity of larger aircraft."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The single-engine pilot's failure to avoid the jet blast while taxiing and the ground controller's inattentiveness to the situation, which resulted in the airplane's being blown over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2127
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City San Antonio
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78232
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293138N
Event Location Longitude 0982756W
Event Location Airport SAN ANTONIO INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 809
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 809
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KSAT 280253Z 12008KT 10SM FEW120 BKN250 20/16 A300
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21749
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 27 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Tx

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49108
NTSB Number DFW07CA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15283421
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Alpha Tango Flying Service Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1331 Northern Blvd
Aircraft Owner City San Antonio
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78216-482
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SAT
Departure City San Antonio
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 21 2007 4:55PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --