What happened
On April 11, 2000, at approximately 10:15 local time, a Cessna 152, registration EC-FCH, was involved in a ground accident at Málaga Airport. The aircraft, operated for flight instruction by a student pilot, was taxiing toward the holding point for runway 32.
Prior to the incident, the crew of a CN-235, registration EC-HAV, had received authorization to taxi to the same holding point to perform engine tests. During the taxi sequence, the pilot of the Cessna 152 passed the CN-235 and turned left to position the aircraft behind it, following a standard local procedure used by the flight school to conduct pre-flight checks away from the runway.
As the CN-235 conducted its engine tests, the propeller blast from the larger aircraft struck the Cessna 152. The force of the jet blast caused the nose of the light aircraft to pitch down, forcing the right wing into the ground and resulting in the aircraft overturning. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller, spinner, engine, right wing, and nose gear strut.
The investigation
The investigation examined the communications between the aircraft and ground control, as well as the positioning of both aircraft. Investigators noted that while the CN-225 crew had informed ground control of their intention to perform engine tests, ground control did not explicitly warn the pilot of the Cessna 152 about this specific activity.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the positioning of the CN-235. Rather than pointing its nose toward the runway—which would have directed the propeller blast away from the taxiway area—the CN-235 was positioned parallel to the runway, which caused the blast to affect a wider area of the holding point.
Findings
- The primary cause was a combination of the student pilot's lack of awareness regarding the CN-235's engine tests, or an inadequate assessment of the potential risks, and the inappropriate positioning of the CN-235 during its power checks.
- The pilot of the Cessna 152 may not have heard or properly evaluated the radio communications between the CN-235 crew and ground control.
- The positioning of the CN-235 parallel to the runway directed the propeller blast into the path of taxiing aircraft.