Cessna 170B accident near Durango, Colorado, June 28, 2015
On June 28, 2015 at about 7:32 pm local time, a 1952 Cessna 170B, registered N170MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Durango, Colorado (Durango-La Plata County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to taxi behind a turbojet airplane into jet blast, which resulted in the airplane being blown off an active taxiway and flipped upside down onto terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2015 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Durango-La Plata County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B UNDESIGNAT, built 1952 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N170MW · registry record · serial 25411
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the single engine airplane reported that while taxiing to his hangar after landing, a regional jet was stopped on the active taxiway blocking his intended path. The pilot of the airplane radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency and asked the regional jet to, "move up so he could taxi behind", in order to proceed to his hangar. The jet Captain responded with "Standby" and then rolled forward and stopped. The pilot of the airplane continued his taxi, but as the airplane approached the rear of the jet, the jet blast blew the airplane off the taxiway and flipped the airplane upside down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Information Manual, section 7-3-1(b) states, "During ground operations and during takeoff, jet engine blast (thrust stream turbulence) can cause damage and upsets if encountered at close range. Exhaust velocity versus distance studies at various thrust levels have shown a need for light aircraft to maintain an adequate separation behind large turbojet aircraft. Pilots of larger aircraft should be particularly careful to consider the effects of their "jet blast" on other aircraft, vehicles, and maintenance equipment during ground operations."
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
What happened, in order
- Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction during taxi defining event
- Ground collision during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,141.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 2015; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 2,807 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00C Durango CO
- Destination: DRO Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DRO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.