BFO95LA037

The pilot stated that while taxiing to parking with variable, gusty crosswind conditions, an unexpected wind gust from behind the airplane caused the airplane to nose over. The pilot reported that he had the flight control stick '...all the way back in my lap...' When the tail suddenly lifted, and the airplane '...fell over on its back.'

On Saturday March 25, 1995, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45631, nosed over while taxing at Parr airport near Zanesville, Ohio. The pilot and the one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Urbana, Ohio, at 1050, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that after a normal landing on runway 28, he slowed the airplane to a fast walk pace, and prepared to exit the active runway. He stated that as he began the right turn off the runway, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over. In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section of the written accident report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had received "...additional instruction on taxi procedures with gusting crosswinds [with the possibility] of quartering tailwinds."

The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was out of 350 to 010 degrees, at 5 knots gusting to 15 knots. He reported that he had applied right rudder, was about to apply right brake for the turn, and had the flight control "...stick all the way back in my lap..." when the accident occurred.

According to an article published in Aviation Safety, a basic rule for downwind taxiing is: "Keep that control wheel/stick full forward and the elevators full down. If very high tailwinds ever get under "up" elevators, you may get flipped..." (Aviation Safety, Vol. XV, "The Meaning of 'Command'" Kelly, B., p.13). An excerpt of this article is appended to this report.