# NTSB LAX91LA043: Cessna 172, N79551, Tonopah, NV, November 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1990, 12:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Tonopah, NV
- Coordinates: 38.359344, -116.259223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3593&lon=-116.2592&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 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27068/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA043

## Probable cause

THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKING WEATHER EVALUATIONS.

## 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 evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - gusts
- Nose over, taxi - from landing

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE 74-HOUR PRIVATE PILOT, DURING HIS X-C FLIGHT HE HAD RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SURFACE WIND AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS 25 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH THE UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT LANDED, EXITED THE RUNWAY, ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO THE NOSE OVER EVENT THE UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS 40 KNOTS WITH GUST TO 60 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79551](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79551-1993-06-16), registration cancelled 1993-06-16, S/N 17258170 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258170
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Double Eagle Aviation Inc.
- Departed: WMC, WINNEMUCCA, NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TPH, Tonopah, runway 33, 7,162 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 74 total, 44 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 40 knots, gusting 60
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19901126051959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901126051959A), Nov 26, 1990: Cessna 172K, Tonopah, NV, Substantial damage. Tried to taxi the high wing in 75MPH wind gusts. Should have turned into wind. Called help too late. Blown 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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