# NTSB CHI01LA253: Cessna 150M, N714GF, Rapid City, SD, July 26, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2001, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Rapid City, SD - Coordinates: 44.069862, -103.229431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0699&lon=-103.2294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA253 ## Probable cause The student solo pilot failed to compensate for the wind conditions. Factors included the high wind, gusts, and tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, standing - engine(s) operating - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage prior to taxi when a gust of wind flipped it over on its back. The solo student pilot reported the winds were from the south and under 10 knots and the sky conditions appeared favorable with good visibility. He reported that at 1735 he started the engine and continued to accomplish the checklist items. He reported that about 10 minutes later he was still accomplishing the checklist items and had not started to taxi, when "... all of a sudden, the control wheels started to abruptly move forward and backward…My first reaction was to hold the control wheel forward to stabilize the movement while at the same time I turned to look behind me... In a matter of seconds I felt the tail and [end] of the plane rising up...The next thing I remember is being violently flipped over..." At 1655, the surface weather observation at RAP was: winds 170 degrees at 6 knots, 10 mile visibility, light rain, clear, temperature 24 degrees C, dew point 20 degrees C, altimeter 29.95. At 1759, the surface weather observation at RAP was: winds 140 degrees at 31 knots gusting to 37 kts, 1 3/4 miles visibility, rain, mist, 2,800 feet scattered, 4,900 feet broken, 6,500 feet overcast, temperature 17 degrees C, dewpoint 16 degrees C, altimeter 29.98. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2001, at 1745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150, N714GF, sustained substantial damage prior to taxi when a gust of wind flipped it over on its back. The student pilot, who was on a supervised student solo flight, was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight had intended to depart the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), Rapid City, South Dakota, on a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported arrived at RAP about 1700 and checked the weather. He reported the winds were from the south and under 10 knots. He reported, "The sky conditions appeared favorable with good visibility." He noted Convective SIGMET's were issued for convective activity about 120 nautical miles away. He reported pulling the airplane from the hangar to do a preflight inspection. He called a fuel truck to fuel the airplane. At 1735, he reported that he started the engine and continued to accomplish the checklist items. He reported that about 10 minutes later he was still accomplishing the checklist items and had not started to taxi, when "...all of a sudden, the control wheels started to abruptly move forward and backward on there own and my initial thought was that someone was messing with me by playing with my elevator. My first reaction was to hold the control wheel forward to stabilize the movement while at the same time I turned to look behind me. When I turned to look, I saw that the sky was dark and I remember seeing debris swirling about." He stated further, "...In a matter of seconds I felt the tail and [end] of the plane rising up...The next thing I remember is being violently flipped over and I was now hanging upside down, suspended by my seatbelt and shoulder harness." At 1655, the surface weather observation at RAP was: winds 170 degrees at 6 knots, 10 mile visibility, light rain, clear, temperature 24 degrees C, dew point 20 degrees C, altimeter 29.95. At 1759, the surface weather observation at RAP was: winds 140 degrees at 31 knots gusting to 37 kts, 1 3/4 miles visibility, rain, mist, 2,800 feet scattered, 4,900 feet broken, 6,500 feet overcast, temperature 17 degrees C, dewpoint 16 degrees C, altimeter 29.98. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N714GF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714GF-2005-04-14), registration cancelled 2005-04-14, S/N 15079159, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15079159 - Airframe hours: 5663 - Engines: Continental O-200 A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Eatherton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2001, 80 hours before - Departed: RAP, Rapid City, SD - Airport: RAP, Rapid City Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 34 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 31 knots, gusting 37 - Visibility: 1.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: RAP ## 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 20010726019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010726019099A), Jul 26, 2001: Cessna 150M, Rapid City, SD, No damage. On July 26, 2001, at 1820 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150, N714GF, sustained substantial damage prior to taxi when a gust of wind flipped it over on its… 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.