# NTSB BFO95LA041: Cessna 172, N6114E, Allentown, PA, April 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 1995, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Allentown, PA - Coordinates: 40.589179, -75.469032 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5892&lon=-75.4690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9037 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9037/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA041 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, taxi - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6114E-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N 46214, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46214 - Airframe hours: 3069 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950404006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950404006649A), Apr 4, 1995: Cessna 172, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. Taxiing in strong gusty surface wind. Blown over. Needed wing walkers in excessive wind. Type susceptible to wind. ## Other investigations on N6114E (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC68D0224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0224), Sep 30, 1967: Cessna 172 (N6114E), Mahopac, NY, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.