CHI02LA125

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Redfield, SD · May 3, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 3, 2002, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Redfield, SD
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N6422ECessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 13, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20020503009279A
Case key
54674

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control while taxing to takeoff in high and gusty wind conditions.

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.

Nose overTaxi - to takeoff
Weather condition - gusts
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - high wind
Nose overTaxi - to takeoff

Analysis

When taxing for departure, the aircraft moved forward about 10 to 15 feet and cleared a hangar to the left side. At this point, the left wing began to lift, raising the left wheel off the ground and pushing the aircraft to the right. As the left wing continued to rise, propeller striking occurred and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that the aircraft came to a rest upside down in the grass.

Factual narrative

On May 3, 2002, at 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6422E, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while taxiing for departure at the Redfield Municipal Airport (1D8), Redfield, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries.

According to the pilot's written statement, the aircraft taxied forward about 10 - 15 feet and cleared a hangar to the left side of the airplane. The pilot reported that the left wing began to lift, raising the left wheel off the ground and the aircraft went to the right. The pilot stated that as the left wing continued to rise, the propeller impacted the ground and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that the aircraft came to a rest upside down on the grass. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported the wind was 240 to 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 25 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N6422E
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
46522
Airframe hours
9,015
Engine
Continental O-300A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
John O. Aiton
Registered owner
Ed Souder
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 16, 2001 · 70 hours before
Departed
1D8 · Redfield, SD
Destination
Redfield, SD
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
1D8 · Redfield Municipal Airport

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
47
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
November 19, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
204 total · 156 in this make and model · 181 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 18 knots, gusting 25
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 434 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.