Cessna 150M accident near San Antonio, Texas, October 29, 1997
On October 29, 1997 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9182U, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (San Antonio International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate service provided by the ground controller, by clearing the Boeing 727 to taxi after the Cessna 150 was cleared to taxi behind the 727, which led to a wake turbulence (jet exhaust) encounter and damage to the Cessna 150.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1997 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Antonio International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9182U · no longer on the register · serial 15078133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of Cessna 150, N9182U, held short of Taxiway Delta to allow Boeing 727, N54333, to pass in front of them. After passing, the 727 came to a complete stop at the intersection of Taxiway Delta and runway 12L. The ground controller (GC) offered the Cessna pilots the choice to hold for the 727 or taxi down the taxiway. The Cessna pilots replied that they would hold. The GC then told the Cessna pilots 'okay pass behind him (the 727) taxi to Wright Flyers use caution you got company coming out of Wright Flyers.' The Cessna pilots acknowledged 'behind the 727 (uh) for Wright Flyers then we'll stay right for that outbound traffic.' The GC then cleared the 727 to proceed across runway 12L. As the 727 was throttled up to cross runway 12, the Cessna had moved into the path of the 727's jet blast & was lifted off the ground. The Cessna then struck the surface with its left wing tip and propeller, and was damaged. The pilots of both aircraft had complied with their respective taxi clearances. The Cessna pilot said that he had previously taxied behind large aircraft at the same place with no problems after receiving similar taxi clearance. He also stated that he would have not proceeded behind the 727, if he was aware that the jet was powering up from a 'dead stop.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,042 hours in all; 834 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 965 as pilot in command; 655 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,555 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 7, 1997; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:05 pm from SAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.