# NTSB CHI02LA098: Piper PA-22-150, N6156D, Russell, KS, March 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 2002, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Russell, KS - Coordinates: 38.880458, -98.849243 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8805&lon=-98.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during the back-taxi. Additional factors were the tailwind and the wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, taxi - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi for takeoff. The winds were reported as 020 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported he had purchased the airplane one day prior to he accident. After about a three hour flight, he landed in order to refuel. After refueling, he back-taxied down runway 35 for takeoff. He reported the winds were 20-25 knots, and that a gust of wind hit the airplane. Within 10-15 seconds, the airplane had nosed over and was upside down. He reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that he held a current Third Class Medical Certificate, but his last biennial flight review was on October 3, 1986. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 2002, at 1530 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6156D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi for takeoff. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was taxiing for departure at the Russell Municipal Airport (RSL), Russell, Kansas, en route to an unknown destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The winds at RSL were reported as 020 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported he had purchased the airplane on March 28, 2002, in Sterling, Colorado. On March 29, 2002, he landed at RSL to refuel. After refueling, he back-taxied down runway 35 for takeoff. He reported the winds were 20-25 knots, and that a gust of wind hit the airplane. Within 10-15 seconds, the airplane had nosed over and was upside down. He reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported his last biennial flight review was on October 3, 1986. The pilot held a current Third Class Medical Certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6156D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6156D-2022-03-29), registration cancelled 2022-03-29, S/N 22-4803 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4803 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Sherwin - Registered owner: John Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2001 - Departed: RSL, Russell, KS - Destination: Unknown - Airport: RSL, Russell Municipal, runway 35, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 3, 1986; seat: left; flight hours: 3,800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: RSL ## 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 20020329010129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020329010129A), Mar 29, 2002: Piper PA22150, Russell, KS, No damage. (-23) Mr. Sherwin reported that he was attempting to back taxi his aircraft down the Russell municipal rwy 34 when a cross wind caught the aircraft's tail,… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54433. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.