Event FTW97LA247

Factual narrative

On June 28, 1997, approximately 1505 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N53795, was substantially damaged while taxiing behind a Canadair RJ twin jet transport airplane at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport near Fort Worth, Texas. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to ATE of New York, Inc. and operated by American Flyers, Inc. as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional dual flight. No flight plan had been filed. According to the flight instructor, he taxied northbound for departure on runway 16L via taxiway A. The Canadair RJ turned west and stopped at the hold short line for runway 16L. The flight instructor stated that he proceeded to taxi behind the twin jet transport towards the run up pad. While transitioning behind the twin jet transport, the jet was cleared to takeoff. The instructor pilot further stated that when the "jet increased [its] throttles, the blast from the added exhaust caught Cessna 795 broadside and tipped it over onto the right wing tip and nose." The instructor pilot stated that when the "exhaust blast dissipated, Cessna 795 righted itself." The instructor pilot completed shut down procedures and evacuated the airplane with the student pilot. According to a flight instructor (CFI), he taxied a Cessna (N53795) northbound on taxiway A, behind a twin jet transport airplane to takeoff on runway 16L. The twin jet transport airplane turned west and stopped at the hold short line for runway 16L. The CFI stated that he proceeded to taxi behind the jet towards the run up pad. As the Cessna was passing behind the jet, the jet was cleared to takeoff. The CFI further stated that when the 'jet increased [its] throttles, the blast from the added exhaust caught Cessna 795 broadside and tipped it over onto its right wing tip and nose.' The CFI stated that when the 'exhaust blast dissipated, Cessna 795 righted itself.' The pilot shut down the airplane, and evacuated the plane along with the student pilot. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12