# NTSB LAX86LA141: Cessna 172N, N739GB, Apple Valley, CA, March 15, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1986, 15:39 local (23:39 UTC)
- Place: Apple Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.569515, -117.150924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5695&lon=-117.1509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA141

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, taxi
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A CESSNA 172N NOSED OVER ON THE TAXIWAY AFTER COMPLETING A FULL STOP LDG ON THE RWY. WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 180 DEG AT 18 KTS GUSTING TO 23 KTS WITH PEAK GUSTS FROM THE SE AT 31 KTS. UNICOM REPORTED WINDS FROM THE S AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS. THE PLT HAD COMPLETED HIS LDG ON RWY AND WAS TAXIING ON THE MIDFIELD TAXIWAY WHEN A GUST WIND LIFTED THE TAIL CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE OVER. THE PLT ALSO INDICATED HE HAD THE AILERONS INTO THE WIND AND THE ELEVATOR NEUTRAL WHILE TAXIING. THE MIDFIELD TAXIWAY AT THE POINT WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY, THUS CREATING A X-WIND/TAILWIND CONDITION BASED ON REPORTED WINDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739GB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739GB-1988-07-22), registration cancelled 1988-07-22, S/N 17270522 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270522
- Airframe hours: 1824
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William E. Span
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1986, 14 hours before
- Departed: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Destination: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA
- Airport: APV, Apple Valley, runway 18, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 146 total, 19 in this make and model, 105 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VCV, 10 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 19860315006709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860315006709A), Mar 15, 1986: Cessna 172N, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Failure to keep elevator deflected down aided gust of quartering tailwind to pick up tail and nose aircraft over.

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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