Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient clearance from the jet blast of a departing jet airplane.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the airplane reported that he had been holding short of the runway when a large jet departed. He was then instructed by the control tower to “line up and wait.” The pilot began taxiing the airplane onto the departure runway and experienced a “violent burst of wind or jet wash”. The airplane’s right wing lifted, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane’s wing struts and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.