# NTSB CHI96LA123: Cessna 206, N6237Q, Ulysses, KS, April 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 1996, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Ulysses, KS - Coordinates: 37.569255, -101.349433 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5693&lon=-101.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10221/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA123 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while taxiing. Factors relating to the accident were: the high, gusty, crosswind condition; and loose gravel on the roadway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, taxi ## Analysis The pilot reported that while taxiing before takeoff, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, causing it to slide sideways. He said that when the airplane reached the left side of the road, the wind 'got under the right wing and turned the plane over onto the top.' He was departing to the east from a two lane county road with loose gravel that ran east and west. The winds were reported to be 10 to 15 miles per hour from the south-southeast. The airplane came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the road. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 1996, at 0830 central standard time, a Cessna 206, N6237Q, sustained substantial damage while taxiing on a gravel county road when a gust of wind flipped the airplane on its back. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight was departing a county road 12 miles east of Ulysses, Kansas, en route to Liberal, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that while taxiing just prior to takeoff roll, a very strong gust of wind struck the airplane, causing it to slide sideways. He reported that when the airplane reached the left side of the road, the wind "got under the right wing and turned the plane over onto the top." The pilot reported that he was departing to the east from a two lane gravel county road that ran east to west. He reported that the winds were 10 to 15 miles per hour from the south, southeast. The winds in Garden City, Kansas, 30 miles to the northeast were reported as 170 degrees with 22 mile per hour winds, gusting to 28. The pilot reported that the road had loose gravel. He reported that the airplane ended up in the ditch on the north side of the road. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6237Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20602381 - Airframe hours: 4100 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry J. Egley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1995, 50 hours before - Destination: LBL, LIBERAL, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 290 total, 178 in this make and model, 261 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 22 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GCK, 30 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 19960401005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960401005719A), Apr 1, 1996: Cessna U206F, Ulysses, KS, Substantial damage. Turning to depart a gravel road was blown over upside down in a ditch by a strong gust of wind. 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.