# NTSB CEN15LA334: Cessna 208B, N942AC, Chicago, IL, August 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2015, 14:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.966945, -87.894165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9669&lon=-87.8942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 16, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91693 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91693/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91693 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA334 ## Probable cause An encounter with a wind gust during ground maneuvering and the captain’s improper flight control positioning to account for wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane being blown onto its left wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the commercial flight crew waited for a takeoff clearance on the taxiway, the tower controller asked if they would move aside to allow other aircraft to pass. As the captain made a right turn, a wind gust lifted the right side of the airplane and turned it clockwise. The airplane came to rest on its nose and its left wing for several seconds, then fell back upright on all three landing gear. The engine was secured, and all occupants deplaned through the main cabin door. Thunderstorms were reported west of the airport, moving east at the time of the accident, and wind gusts to 45 knots were recorded about the time of the upset. It is likely that the captain did not properly position the flight controls during the turning maneuver, which led to the wind picking up the wing. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2015, at 1437 central daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N942AC, operating as Air Choice One (call sign Weber) flight 2627, was substantially damaged when a wind gust lifted it up and it impacted the taxiway while awaiting takeoff clearance at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The two flight crewmembers and five passengers were not injured; two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Multi-Aero, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a scheduled domestic passenger flight. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The airplane had departed the terminal gate at 1410 and was destined for Southeast Iowa Regional Airport (BRL), Burlington, Iowa.There had been numerous reports of wind shear and microbursts in the immediate vicinity. According to the captain and first officer's statements, they were awaiting takeoff clearance on runway 22L when the control tower asked that they move aside to allow other aircraft to pass. As the captain was making a right turn, a wind gust lifted the right side of the airplane and turned it clockwise. The airplane remained nose down, resting on its left wing for several seconds, then fell back upright coming to rest on all three landing gears. The engine was secured, and all occupants deplaned through the main cabin door. A post-accident examination showed the outboard portion of the left wing was bent up about 30 degrees, the left aileron was damaged, and all three propeller blades were impact damaged. According to a special weather study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Weather Service's (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart valid at the time of the accident depicted a low pressure system over northwestern Michigan, with a cold front extending to the southwest through Wisconsin, Minnesota, into Iowa and then westward into Nebraska. To the east of the low, a warm front extended across northern Wisconsin and Lake Michigan, into north-central Michigan. An outflow boundary associated with thunderstorms was depicted just east of the warm front over extreme eastern Michigan into Lake Huron. The National Center for Atmospheric Research's (NCAR) Research Application Laboratory's (RAL) regional radar mosaic image 2 minutes prior to the accident depicted a defined line of thunderstorms over Lake Michigan and into northeastern Wisconsin in the vicinity of the warm front and another area over eastern Michigan associated with the outflow boundary. There was another large intense-to-extreme area of echoes observed in the vicinity of ORD moving eastward across northern Illinois at approximately 40 knots. The NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Convective Outlook at 1116 CDT that indicated the potential for thunderstorms and a greater than 30% probability of wind gusts greater than 50 knots, and a 15%probability of hail 1 inch in diameter or larger, and a 2% probability of a tornado in the Chicago area. ORD's special weather observation at 1429 indicated the wind to be from 230° at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots, visibility 10 miles in thunderstorm, a few clouds at 5,000 feet agl, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, ceiling broken at 9,000 feet, and broken at 20,000 feet, temperature 31° Celsius (C), dew point 19° C, altimeter 29.74 inches of mercury (Hg). Remarks: Peak wind from 240° at 27 knots occurred at 1402 CDT, thunderstorm began at 1428 CDT, frequent lightning in cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground to the west. Thunderstorm west moving east, temperature 31.1° C, dew point 19.4° C. ORD's special weather observation at 1443 indicated the wind to be from 250° at 16 knots gusting to 45 knots. Runway 10L's visual range (RVR) was 700 feet variable to better than 6,000 feet. Weather: thunderstorm, hail, and moderate rain, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet agl. Cumulonimbus and scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, broken ceiling at 9,000 feet, and broken clouds at 20,000 feet. Temperature, 27° C, dew point, 22° C, altimeter 29.76 inches of Hg. Remarks: Peak wind from 270° at 45 knots occurred at 1440 CDT, rain began at 1942, hail began 1943, thunderstorm began 1928, pressure rising rapidly, frequent lightning cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground overhead, thunderstorm overhead moving east, temperature 26.7° C, dew point 21.7° C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N942AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N942AC-2025-04-04), registration cancelled 2025-04-04, S/N 208B5202, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-140) (registry code 51499, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B-5202 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 357 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 867 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Multi-Aero, Inc., doing business as Air Choice One, Inc. - Registered owner: Multi-Aero, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Commuter; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 25, 2015, 55 hours before - Departed: ORD, Chicago, IL - Destination: BRL, Burlington, IA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare International, runway 28C, 10,801 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,800 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 591 total, 22 in this make and model, 201 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots, gusting 45 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KORD, 2 nm away ## 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 20150802011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150802011299A), Aug 2, 2015: Cessna 208-B, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. N942AC was instructed to hold on 28 pad during taxi phase awaiting departure on runway 28 center by ATC. While waiting, a severe thunderstrom generated a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91693. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Captain's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Captain%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - First Officer's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=First%20Officer%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Group Chairman's Report, Meteorology (item 4, .PDF, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Group%20Chairman%27s%20Report,%20Meteorology-Master.PDF - Chart of Accident Area (item 5, .PDF, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Chart%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF 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.