19980224003879A

Blown over turning off active runway. Severe excessive surface wind. Should have asked for wing walkers. (.4)on February 24, 1998, at 2100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D, airplane, N2526U, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while taxing at the El Paso International Airport, El Paso, Texas. The private, instrument rated pilot and the passenger we re not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the fort stockton-pecos county airport, fort stockton, Texas, approximately 1715. And no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he landed the airplane on runway 24. While exiting from the active runway onto the taxiway, during high wind conditions, the aircraft was "lifted off the ground and flipped over." The airplane came to rest inverted on the taxiway. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 240 degrees, at 46 knots, with gusts to 51 knots. The FAA inspector who examined the airplane at the site reported that both wing tips were curled. He also observed that the propeller blades were bent. Attempts to obtain a completed copy of the pilot/operator aircraft accident report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), from the pilot, who was reported to have returned to his homeland in germany, were unsuccessful. (-23) on February 24, 1998, at approximately 2100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N2526U, landed on runway 24 in El Paso, TX. The winds at the time of the landing were 240 degrees at 46 knots with gust to 51 knots. As the aircraft turned to taxied clear of the runway the winds rocked uncontrollably right and left causing both wing tips and propeller tips to strike the pavement. Substantial damage resulted to the outboard two feet of each wing as well as the propeller tips. The pilot in command is a german national with a us private pilot based on his german certificate. There were no injuries.