What happened
On August 15, 2022, at approximately 15:25 UTC, a Cessna 150-L, registration LV-CRR, was involved in a ground incident while taxiing at Morón Airport in the province of Buenos Aires. The aircraft, which was conducting a flight training mission with a private pilot and a flight instructor on board, had recently landed on runway 20 and was taxiing via taxiway Charlie and taxiway Alpha toward the north apron.
As the aircraft approached the intersection of runway 20, it was following another aircraft, LV-CJT, which had received authorization from the tower to cross the runway. The crew of LV-CRR attempted to cross the runway but failed to stop at the mandatory hold bar. At that moment, a Grumman S-2T Turbotraker belonging to the Argentine Navy was positioned at the threshold of runway 20, awaiting takeoff clearance. As the Grumman aircraft increased power, the resulting propeller wash caused the Cessna 150-L to become momentarily unstable, lifting its left wing and causing the propeller tip to strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently stabilized and continued to the apron without reporting the contact to the tower.
The investigation
The investigation examined the movements of all aircraft involved and the communications between the flight crews and the control tower. Investigators established that while the preceding aircraft had been granted permission to cross, the crew of LV-CRR did not receive authorization from the tower for their crossing. The investigation also reviewed the positioning of the Grumman S-2T Turbotracker, which was approximately 80 meters from the intersection when the incident occurred.
Findings
- The crew of LV-CRR failed to stop at the mandatory hold bar and proceeded to cross runway 20 without receiving required clearance from the tower.
- The unauthorized runway crossing placed the aircraft in the path of the aerodynamic disturbance caused by the departing aircraft.
- The propeller wash generated by the engines of the Grumman S-2T Turbotracker caused the sudden destabilization of the Cessna 150-L.
- The physical contact between the propeller and the ground resulted in light damage to the aircraft.