- Date
- January 23, 2010, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nightmute, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3718FCessna 172H
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Admininstration
- FAA report
- 20100123026399A
- Case key
- 75315
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane in a strong gusting wind, and his decision to taxi for takeoff in such conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, while taxiing for departure to runway 3, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left. The wind gust lifted the left wing, the airplane turned 180 degrees, and traveled down a 20- to 40-foot embankment. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane showed damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and empennage. The pilot estimated the wind speed at 45 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, while taxiing for departure to runway 3, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left. The wind gust lifted the left wing, the airplane turned 180 degrees, and traveled down a 20 to 40 foot embankment. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane showed damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and empennage. The pilot estimated the wind speed at 45 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3718F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255213
- Airframe hours
- 5,461
- Engine
- Cont Motor 0-300 SER, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Twohy Timothy D
- Registered owner
- Twohy Timothy D
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 23, 2009
- Departed
- AGT · Nightmute, AK
- Destination
- Bethel, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- AGT · Nightmute Airport, runway 03, 1,600 × 50 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 9, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,220 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,160 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 40 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -9 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 291 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3718F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.