Hesler-Noble Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Laurel, Mississippi 39440
Saturday, October 6, 2007 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 3,500-hour commercial pilot, who was exercising sport pilot privileges, lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane upon encountering the jet blast from a twin-turbofan powered corporate jet. The airplane was taxiing to the ramp upon completion of a local flight when the mishap occurred. The corporate jet was being run-up by maintenance personnel with the jet engine blast directed across the taxiway. The single-engine airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. The left wing spar was found to have received structural damage. The airport did not have an operating control tower. 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." In addition, paragraph 7-3-1 states that "pilots of larger aircraft should be particularly careful to consider the effects of their "jet blast" on other aircraft....during ground operations."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The single-engine pilot's failure to avoid the jet blast while taxiing and the maintenance personnel's poor judgment to perform the engine ground run with the jet's engine exhaust directed across the taxiway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Laurel
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39440
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 311013N
Event Location Longitude 0891012W
Event Location Airport HESLER-NOBLE FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 238
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22715
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 7 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson, Mississippi

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N954Z
NTSB Number DFW08CA008
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cub Crafters
Aircraft Model CC11-100
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CC11-00041
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 55
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name August Belmont
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Palm Desert
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GLH
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LUL
Destination City LAUREL
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 28 2007 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --