# NTSB ERA14CA317: Cessna 172S, N775SP, Orlando, FL, June 29, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2014, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.545555, -81.333053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5456&lon=-81.3331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89563/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89563 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA317 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain control while taxiing in a strong gusty wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he had completed an approximate 1 hour flight with his student pilot and they landed uneventfully. After landing, the airplane had a long taxi to return to the fixed based operator. During the taxi, a thunderstorm moved into the area and the wind increased. The strong wind caused the airplane to weathervane violently in one direction. The wind then lifted the airplane, flipped it over, and it came to rest inverted on the taxiway. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the fuselage, wings, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at the airport at the time of the accident was from 120 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 31 knots. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he had completed an approximate 1 hour flight with his student pilot and they landed uneventfully. After landing, the airplane had a long taxi to return to the fixed based operator. During the taxi, a thunderstorm moved into the area and the wind increased. The strong wind caused the airplane to weathervane violently in one direction. The wind then lifted the airplane, flipped it over, and it came to rest inverted on the taxiway. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the fuselage, wings, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at the airport at the time of the accident was from 120 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 31 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N775SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N775SP), registered now, S/N 172S8705, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8705 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 7088 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Trax Air - Registered owner: Scharf Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 4, 2014, 22 hours before - Departed: ORL, Orlando, FL - Destination: ORL, Orlando, FL - Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,614 total, 1,024 in this make and model, 1,513 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9 total, 9 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots, gusting 31 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ORL ## 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 20140629009719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140629009719A), Jun 29, 2014: Cessna 172S, Orlando, FL, Destroyed. While taxing back to aircfraft parking ramp. A rain storm came in and a strong gust of wind flipped over the aircraft on taxiway alpha . No injuries were… ## Other investigations on N775SP (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA03CA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA158), Aug 7, 2003: Cessna 172S (N775SP), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll resulting in the aircraft departing the runway and incurring substantial damage. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89563. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane as it came to rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Horizontal Stabilizer and Rudder Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20and%20Rudder%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.