- Date
- April 4, 1995, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Allentown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N6114ECessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950404006649A
- Case key
- 9037
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Related factors were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's poor weather evaluation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was compensating for the wind during taxi operations by utilizing the airplane's flight controls. He said that the airplane nosed over due to a sudden gust of wind from the south. At the time of the accident a nearby weather observation facility reported the wind to be coming from 270 degrees at a velocity of 32 knots, gusting to 39 knots. Peak gusts were reported to be 45 knots. The pilot stated that he obtained a weather briefing prior to the flight and thought the weather '...was ok.'
Factual narrative
On April 4, 1995, at 1540 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6114E, encountered a 35 to 45 knot gust of wind while taxiing at the Allentown Queen City Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage when it nosed over in the gusty wind. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was destined for the Pottstown Municipal Airport in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
The pilot reported that he got a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station. He stated he thought the weather "...was Ok... ." so he decided to fly the airplane. He stated that while taxiing south for runway 32, he "...was using controls to help keep plane on the ground..." He stated that after crossing runway 25/07 a gust of wind "...got under my tail and flipped the plane up on its nose, then over onto its back."
At 1450 eastern daylight time, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton weather observation facility reported the winds to be coming from 270 degrees at a velocity of 32 knots, gusting to 39 knots. Peak gusts were reported to be 45 knots.
The pilot wrote on his Accident Report Form under the Recommendation's section (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), "Keep Plane tied up when it is too windy."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6114E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46214
- Airframe hours
- 3,069
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lenko, David J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 15, 1994 · 83 hours before
- Departed
- 1N9
- Destination
- Pottstown, PA
- Airport
- 1N9 · Queen City
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,568 total · 1,368 in this make and model · 1,568 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 32 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABE
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 N6114E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.