# NTSB LAX90LA273: Cessna 172P, N51872, Mammoth Lakes, CA, August 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1990, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Coordinates: 37.579708, -118.840049 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5797&lon=-118.8400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26880/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA273

## Probable cause

INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH HIGH VELOCITY WINDS.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - high wind (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) operating

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCCUPANT, WAS TAXIING TO THE AIRPORT RAMP AFTER LANDING AND NOTICED TUMBLEWEEDS AND DEBRIS BEING BLOWN IN THE DIRECTION OF HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STOPPED THE AIRPLANE AND A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK BY HIGH VELOCITY WINDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS LIFTED UP AND INVERTED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THUNDERSTORMS AND VIRGA WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51872-1991-01-11), registration cancelled 1991-01-11, S/N 17274367 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274367
- Airframe hours: 3851
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Hanger #1 Aero Service
- Registered owner: Rod Philbrick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 1990, 61 hours before
- Departed: BIH, BISHOP, CA
- Airport: MMH, Mammoth Lakes, runway 27, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,096 total, 1,618 in this make and model, 3,972 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900801029499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900801029499A), Aug 1, 1990: Cessna 172P, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Substantial damage. Saw dust and hangar roof blown off taxiing to ramp after landing. Stopped was blown over. Thunderstorms in area.

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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