Thread: Almost flip over in Page, Arizona

Just a word of caution to all CT flyers ( or any flyers for that matter) about the dangerous lay out in Page.

We have been travelling the Western USA for the last 10 days and stayed in Page Arizona for some scenic flying.

More on this trip later under a different subject , but after returning around noon from a flight along the Bryce Canyon rim and then dropping into Zion Valley from the north below the rim I landed at 33 in Page and taxied A to the ramp.

There were two jets parked on the east end of the ramp and one just powered up for taxi when I was on A about 100 feet behind him.
He did not announce his taxi until he had turned on the ramp but meanwhile lifted my L wing like a feather and my right wing hit the taxiway before bouncing back on all Three's.

A bit more power would have blown me over.

This is a dangerous set up in Page with the taxi way so close to the ramp with the jets and ofcourse in 99% of the cases it should be good unless you are the unlucky one to taxi behind them when the apply a blast for taxi.

The pilot of the Challenger never announced his taxi nor did I have any indication he was about to do so.

Please be aware of this when the group goes flying there.

Cheers,

Jos

Any wing damage?

They have on occasions have small jets fly in. I call to the airport manager would be good and I would have gotten the guys tail number and info from the terminal and had that airlines pay for any damage. A jet pilot should know better with small aircraft all around him. I hope you had a talk with him over the radio and told him he may have caused damage?

I have flown out of there for years without any issues and we as a CT group have done it the last two years without any issue like this one. This will be a good safety tip for everyone when we go in October.

Fortunately ater the upset the right wing touched the taxiway and it bounced right back on all three's.

Everyone was yelling on the radio and the Atlantic guys of the fbo were all going "Did you see that" and talking on the radio.

After I shut down I could not find any damage.

Subsequently my next landing on 33 were long avoiding the taxi way to the east of the ramp and turning straight to GA parking from 33.

On a brighter note we had some excellent flights through one of the most scenic areas of the USA.

Monument Valley stop for breakfast and flying through between the thumb and the rest of the mitten monument were awesome.

Sorry I can't make it in October.

Cheers,

Jos

I have had a similar experience in Van Nuys. It was already a very windy day and I was positioned #1 for takeoff on 34R. The tower cleared a gulfstream that was positioned behind me for take off before me. As he taxid around me and advanced his throttles I was off the ground. Full forward stick kept me from going over backwards.

LSA and jets are a bad combo.

This is probably a good safety point for all of us.

If we see a jet any where near us we should wait before moving and if you think he might be turning his tail in your direction taxi out of that area. If the tower does something like what happened to Charlie Tango then the LSA pilot needs to jump in on the tower freq. and let the tower know that its dangerous. The tower probably isn't thinking of that scenario. I had a tower clear me to take the runway once just a split second after two A-10 attack jets flew over. I advised them of the danger and held my position until I thought it was safe and the vortexs were gone. I had a large jet at one airport take off in front of me and the tower wanted me on his tail to take off. I ask to hold off on that one too just explaining the dangers to them.

This is just a really good reminder for all of us to watch out for the other guy because he may not have his head in the game and we need to think for him and us.

Originally Posted by Roger Lee

This is probably a good safety point for all of us.

If we see a jet any where near us we should wait before moving and if you think he might be turning his tail in your direction taxi out of that area. If the tower does something like what happened to Charlie Tango then the LSA pilot needs to jump in on the tower freq. and let the tower know that its dangerous. The tower probably isn't thinking of that scenario. I had a tower clear me to take the runway once just a split second after two A-10 attack jets flew over. I advised them of the danger and held my position until I thought it was safe and the vortexs were gone. I had a large jet at one airport take off in front of me and the tower wanted me on his tail to take off. I ask to hold off on that one too just explaining the dangers to them.

This is just a really good reminder for all of us to watch out for the other guy because he may not have his head in the game and we need to think for him and us.

Excellent advice Roger.

Controllers often do not give sufficient time for wake turbulence to abate, and you have to take the initiative and protect yourself.

I once was told to position and hold while a 767 took off on a crossing runway, and then immediately afterwards I was told to expedite. I said, Unable, and was then told to taxi off the runway. But, better safe than sorry.