# NTSB DEN89LA053: Cessna 172, N4440L, Cheyenne, WY, January 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1989, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Location: 41.1556° N, 104.8105° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHEYENNE RGNL/JERRY OLSON FLD (CYS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1556&lon=-104.8105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17657/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA053

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND AND GUSTS, WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - to takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not possible
- Nose over, taxi - to takeoff

## Analysis

THE ATP RATED PLT WAS TAXIING THE ACFT ON TAXIWAY 'B' TO RWY 26 FOR TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED THAT AS HE WAS TAXIING, A GUST LIFTED THE ACFT'S TAIL. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PLT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG WITH GUSTS TO 45 KTS. DURING THE 1516 MST WX OBSERVATION, THE WIND WAS FROM 280 DEG AT 30 GUSTING 45 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4440L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4440L-1990-02-13), registration cancelled 1990-02-13, S/N 17254532 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17254532
- Airframe hours: 1693
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Loyd, Michael R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1988, 47 hours before
- Destination: GREELEY, CO
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne, runway 26, 9,199 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,103 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 5,033 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 30 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS, 1 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 19890102000099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890102000099A), Jan 2, 1989: Cessna 172G, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Tried to taxi for takeoff in strong surface wind. A gust blew aircraft onto its back.

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.

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