NTSB Factual Report

On February 22, 2009, about 1457 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172H, N1408F, sustained minor damage while taxiing at the Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Zuluft LLC and operated by Sonoran Wings, Tucson, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. The local flight originated from TUS about 1400.

In a written statement, the operator reported that after the flight instructor and student pilot landed on runway 11R, they exited onto taxiway Alpha 11. The tower controller cleared the flight to cross runway 11L and contact the ground controller once clear of the runway. After crossing runway 11L, the flight instructor and student pilot switched to the ground control frequency and obtained clearance to taxi to the ramp via taxiway Alpha and taxiway Delta. While taxiing, the student pilot and instructor observed an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 airplane holding short of runway 11L at taxiway Alpha 4. The operator stated that the student pilot applied aileron control inputs for possible jet blast and deviated away from the MD-80, towards the inner ramp area.

The operator further reported that the flight instructor advised the student pilot to stop the airplane due to the MD-80 being positioned "farther back from the hold short line of 11L than initially thought and the presence of a Boeing 757 parked in the inner ramp area." As the student pilot and flight instructor slowed the airplane to a stop, the MD-80 "increased engine thrust" to taxi onto the runway. Subsequently, the airplane tipped over onto its right wing.

In a written statement, the tower controller reported that he began to clear American Airlines flight 1418 (AAL1418) for takeoff as he scanned the runway to insure all crossing aircraft were clear of the active runway. The controller "looked back and saw a Cessna taxiing behind AAL1418." The controller stated that he stopped issuing the takeoff clearance for the MD-80, however they had already powered up. The ground controller reported that he taxied the Cessna 172H to Sonoran Wings via taxiway Alpha and taxiway Delta. At taxiway alpha four, "AAL1418 powered up for departure."

Examination of the airplane by the operator revealed that the outboard tip of the right wing sustained minor damage.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order JO 7110.65S, Air Traffic Control, specifies procedures and practices to be used by air traffic control personnel. Section 2-1-20 (b) advises controllers to "Issue cautionary information to any aircraft if in your opinion, wake turbulence may have an adverse effect on it." Section 2-1-20 (note) specifies that "Although not mandatory during ground operations, controllers may use the words jet blast, propwash, or rotorwash, in lieu of wake turbulence, when issuing a cautionary advisory."

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate situational awareness while taxiing that led to an encounter with jet blast.