LAX97LA054

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172G · Chino, CA · November 27, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 27, 1996, 10:03 local (18:03 UTC)
Place
Chino, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N5854RCessna 172G
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 25, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19961127036819A
Case key
29692

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's attempt to taxi with a crosswind component well in excess of the aircraft's maximum factory demonstrated capability. The wind conditions were factors.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTaxi - from landing
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Weather condition - high windFactor
In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Aircraft performance,crosswind capability - exceededCause
Flight into known adverse weather - attemptedPilot in commandCause
Nose overTaxi - from landing

Analysis

Prior to landing the pilot was advised by the local controller that the winds were from 060 at 30 knots, with higher gusts to 40 knots. He then landed on runway 8, turned left onto the perpendicular taxiway B, and began to taxi northbound to parking. In his written report, the pilot stated that after he contacted Chino ground he told them he was '...having trouble; ground aske[d] if I needed help, I said NO, 10 seconds later I was upside down.' Based on the tower reported winds at the time, the computed aircraft crosswind component during the attempted taxi was 28 knots steady state with gusts to 38 knots. According to Cessna Aircraft, the maximum demonstrated crosswind capability of the aircraft is 17 knots.

Factual narrative

On November 27, 1996, at 1003 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172G, N5854R, was blown over by high winds while taxiing from landing at the Chino Airport, Chino, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal flight. No flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Corona, California, Municipal Airport at 0930.

Prior to landing, the pilot was advised by the Chino Air Traffic Control Tower that the winds were from 060 at 30 knots, with higher gusts to 40 knots. He then landed on runway 8, turned left onto the perpendicular taxiway B, and began to taxi northbound to parking. In his written report, the pilot stated that after he contacted Chino ground he told them he was ". . . having trouble; ground aske[d] if I needed help, I said NO, 10 seconds later I was upside down."

Based on the tower reported winds at the time, the computed aircraft crosswind component during the attempted taxi was 28 knots steady state with gusts to 38 knots. According to Cessna Aircraft, the maximum demonstrated crosswind capability of the aircraft is 17 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N5854R
Reported as
Cessna 172G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
53523
Airframe hours
1,992
Engine
Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Theodore D. Marder
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1996
Departed
AJO · Corona, CA
Destination
CNO · Chino, CA
Airport
CNO · Chino, runway 8, 4,856 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
56
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
400 total · 200 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
60° at 30 knots, gusting 40
Visibility
50 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CNO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.