Amateur-built AA-5B accident near San Jose, California, April 10, 2004
On April 10, 2004 at about 10:24 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5B, registered N74270, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Inte 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's encounter with jet blast effects. Factors in the accident were the pilots' inadequate situational awareness of the potential for the jet blast encounter after hearing the Global Express airplane on the frequency call ready for taxi, and, the ground controller's failure to issue a safety advisory.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2004 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Inte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5B
- Registration
- N74270 · registry record · serial 0178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane encountered jet blast from a executive jet transport Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, while taxing to parking. After making an uneventful landing, the pilot taxied off the runway and established communications with ground control. The controller cleared him to taxi to his requested destination, and about 30 seconds later the Global Express jet, which was parked on a FBO ramp with its tail pointed to the taxiway, called ground control and said they were ready to taxi. The ground controller cleared the Global Express to taxi behind the Grumman to the active runway. As the Grumman taxied past the Global Express' parking spot, the jet's engines began to spool up, resulting in a jet blast toward the right side of the Grumman. The Grumman swerved uncontrollably, and the left axle sheared off. The controller did not advise the Grumman of the potential jet blast hazard he could encounter while taxiing behind the Global Express. The Global Express was parked about 100 yards to the east of the tower with nothing impeding line of sight between the two.
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
- PROPELLER BLAST OR JET EXHAUST/SUCTION during taxi - from landing
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,348 hours in all; 1,048 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,295 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,152 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, April 8, 2004; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: O22 Columbia CA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°C, dew point 52°C
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from SJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX04LA184.