Accident Details
On March 14, 2025, at about 0738 central daylight time, a Cessna 208B airplane, registration N9471B, sustained substantial damage during an accident at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 positioning flight.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that while holding short of runway 17R, a departing Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 was cleared for takeoff on the same runway. The pilot estimated the Airbus A321 was 1,500 to 2,000 ft down the runway when the air traffic controller cleared her to line up and wait on runway 17R. She completed the pretakeoff checklist items before taxiing onto the runway. The pilot had set the wing flaps to 10° due to gusty wind conditions and held the control yoke to the right (left aileron down, right aileron up) to manage a right quartering headwind as she taxied toward the runway centerline on a 45° intercept.
As the Cessna approached the runway 17R centerline, it encountered what the pilot described as an “unexpected wind shear and wake turbulence,” causing the airplane to “skid to the left.” The pilot was unable to regain directional control by reducing engine power and applying rudder and right aileron. A strong wind lifted the airplane’s right wing enough for the left wingtip to strike the ground, leading to an uncontrolled left swerve and a propeller strike. The airplane pivoted 360° on the left wingtip before coming to rest upright on its landing gear, aligned with the runway centerline.
The airplane operator reported substantial damage to the left wing.
A postaccident review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control tower communications and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data established the following sequence:
- At 0737:08, the DFW tower controller cleared Spirit Airlines flight 196 (Airbus A321) to line up and wait on runway 17R.
- At 0737:41, the tower controller transmitted the current surface wind as 170° at 18 knots, gusting to 27 knots.
- At 0737:49, the tower controller cleared the Airbus A321 for takeoff on runway 17R.
- At 0737:55, the tower controller issued a caution for wake turbulence and cleared the Cessna 208B to line up and wait on runway 17R.
- At 0738:16, about 740 ft past the runway 17R threshold, the Airbus A321 began its takeoff roll.
- At about 0738:30, the Cessna 208B lost directional control as it approached runway 17R centerline about 85 ft past the runway threshold.
Aircraft Information
According to the FAA Aircraft Registry, the Airbus A321-231 involved was equipped with two International Aero Engines (IAE) V2533-A5 engines. Per the Airbus technical document "A321 Aircraft Characteristics – Airport and Maintenance Planning," an Airbus A321 with IAE V2500 series engines at maximum takeoff power has an engine exhaust danger area extending 1,150 ft aft of each engine with no surface wind. Additionally, with no surface wind, an engine exhaust velocity of 30 knots extends to 575 ft aft of the exhaust nozzle, and an exhaust velocity of 17 knots extends to 990 ft aft. Surface wind conditions affect the extent of the exhaust danger area and velocity profiles.
The Cessna 208B sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and the propeller was also struck during the event.