- Date
- March 15, 2006, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N97881Cessna 182
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Houston FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060315002779A
- Case key
- 63348
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
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.
Analysis
The 1,100-hour commercial pilot was taxiing to Runway 09 and as he started his left turn to the runway, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right. The airplane came to rest upright in an adjacent ditch. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported from 160-165 degrees, gusting from 19 to 24 knots, with occasional higher gusts.
Factual narrative
The 1,100-hour commercial pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that he was taxiing to Runway 09, and as he started his left turn onto the runway "a gust of wind over 24-knots caused the aircraft to veer to the right and come to rest in an adjacent ditch." Additionally, he reported that at the time of the accident the winds were "19-24 knots with higher gusts coming from 160-165 degrees." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing on the airplane sustained structural damage. A review of CAP regulation 60-1 (CAP Flight Management) paragraph 2-16 states: "The maximum crosswind limit for operating CAP aircraft is that which is stated in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) as the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity." Additionally, a review of the Cessna 182Q POH revealed that the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity is 20-knots for takeoffs, and 15-knots for landing.
At 1353, the automated weather observing system at SGR, located approximately 11 nautical miles northwest, reported winds from 140 degrees at 19 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, a broken ceiling at 9,500 feet, temperature 70 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and a altimeter setting of 30.16 inches of Mercury. At 1353, the automated weather observing system at HOU, located approximately 13 nautical miles northeast, reported winds from 120 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 21 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 3,400 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, an overcast ceiling at 25,000 feet, temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and a altimeter setting of 30.17 inches of Mercury
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97881
- Reported as
- Cessna 182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18267239
- Airframe hours
- 3,925
- Engine
- Continental O-470U, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2006
- Departed
- AXH · Houston, TX
- Destination
- LBX · Angleton/Lake J, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- AXH · Houston-Southwest
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
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 179 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 140 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.