# NTSB LAX97LA083: Cessna 182H, N1870X, Burbank, CA, January 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 1997, 07:33 local (15:33 UTC) - Place: Burbank, CA - Coordinates: 34.169204, -118.339324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1692&lon=-118.3393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA083 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision concerning landing and taxiing in high wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable wind conditions, and the lack of crosswind limit information in the Cessna 182H Pilot's Operating Handbook regarding landing or taxiing operations. ## 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 (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft manuals - inadequate (contributing factor) - aircraft performance,crosswind capability - exceeded - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - from landing ## Analysis The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 33 by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. At the time of the clearance, the pilot was advised that the winds were from 360 degrees at 45 knots. The aircraft completed the landing ground roll and was turning onto a taxiway when the wind blew it over. After exiting runway 33 by turning onto the taxiway, the aircraft encountered a crosswind component of about 25 knots. The 1965 model year Cessna 182H pilot's operating handbook contained no information regarding not-to-exceed crosswind velocities during landing or taxiing operations. In a telephone conversation with the aircraft manufacturer, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the Cessna 182H was reported to be 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 1997, at 0733 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182H, N1870X, was blown over by an estimated 50-knot wind gust while taxiing from landing at the Burbank, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by Dave Sonke Aviation of Bishop, California, and was on a positioning flight for a 14 CFR Part 135 revenue flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Bishop on the day of the accident at 0615 as a positioning flight to Burbank. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 33 by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. At the time of the clearance, the pilot was advised that the winds were from 360 degrees at 45 knots. The aircraft completed the landing ground roll and was turning off at taxiway B-3 when the wind blew it over, damaging the propeller, right wing strut, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing tip. The pilot indicated in his written report that he "made a normal landing considering [the] conditions. . . . As I turned off runway at taxi speed (twy B3) a severe gust of wind lifted the right wing & tail & flipped the plane [on] to its back. . . . (I tried to turn into wind early, as the wing lifted, no dice. I also had the correct aileron input for the winds.) . . . Note: The gust of 50 + [knots] was the first of many during the rest of the morning. Until that point the winds were very manageable." After exiting runway 33 by making an approximate 90-degree turn onto taxiway B3, the quartering 43-knot headwind on runway 33 became a direct crosswind that was calculated to be 25 knots. The wind calculations are based upon a reported wind of 300 degrees at 50 knots in the 0735 Burbank Airport Special Weather Observation report. The 1965 model year Cessna 182H pilot's operating handbook contains no information regarding not-to-exceed crosswind velocities during landing or taxiing operations. In a telephone conversation with the aircraft manufacturer, it was determined that the demonstrated crosswind component for the Cessna 182H is 18 knots; however, no specific information regarding wind limits during taxi operations was available. According to the manufacturer's information, at the time the accident occurred, the wind exceeded the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind capability by 7 knots, or 28 percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1870X (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182H - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255970 - Airframe hours: 5788 - Engines: Continental O-470-50 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Dave Sonke Aviation - Registered owner: Denton V Sonke - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 1996, 56 hours before - Departed: BIH, BISHOP, CA - Destination: BUR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BUR, Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena, runway 33, 6,886 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,847 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 5,748 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 50 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BUR ## 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 19970106000189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970106000189A), Jan 6, 1997: Cessna 182H, Burbank, CA, Substantial damage. Blown over turing off landing runway. Wind exceeded crosswind component. 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.