- Date
- March 31, 1999, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Winslow, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N7882XCessna 172B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990331002859A
- Case key
- 46007
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue flight into known adverse wind conditions which exceeded the ground handling capability of the aircraft.
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.
Analysis
The pilot landed on runway 22 and was blown over by high winds while turning off the runway to a parallel taxiway. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, there is no record that the pilot requested or received a preflight weather briefing. A review of FAA records disclosed that the pilot had an in-flight radio contact with Prescott flight service station while en route. In the contact at 1001, the pilot first inquired only about the CTAF frequency for the Winslow airport. The briefer then advised the pilot of the forecast for strong surface winds over the entire area and provided the 0956 Winslow METAR, which was reporting surface winds from 230 degrees at 40 knots with gusts to 50 knots. Review of the METAR reports showed that peak wind gusts of 63 knots occurred within an hour after the accident. According to engineering data provided by Cessna Aircraft, the maximum demonstrated crosswind capability of the aircraft is 17 knots.
Factual narrative
On March 31, 1999, at 1015 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172B, N7882X, was blown over by high winds while turning from runway 22 to a parallel taxiway at the Winslow, Arizona, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included peak wind gusts of 75 knots, which were recorded shortly after the accident. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal cross-country flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and originated at the Double Eagle Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the day of the accident at 0730 as a planned flight to Winslow.
The pilot did not make a verbal or written statement to the Safety Board and did not respond to repeated requests for the completion of a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, there is no record that the pilot requested or received a preflight weather briefing either through the AFSS system, Contel, or DUATS.
A telephone inquiry with the FBO Aerowest at the Double Eagle Airport disclosed that a computer is available for pilots to use to obtain weather information. Individual station METARS can be viewed and printed, or, the pilot can log onto the system for a full weather briefing. Retrieving individual station reports does not require the use of a name or pilot certificate number.
A review of FAA records disclosed that the pilot had an in-flight radio contact with Prescott AFSS while en route. The Safety Board obtained a certified re-recording of the exchange. In the contact at 1001, the pilot first inquired only about the CTAF frequency for the Winslow airport. The briefer then advised the pilot of the forecast for strong surface winds over the entire area and provided the 0956 Winslow METAR, which was reporting surface winds from 230 degrees at 40 knots with gusts to 50 knots. Review of the METAR reports showed that peak wind gusts of 63 knots occurred within an hour after the accident.
According to engineering data provided by Cessna Aircraft, the maximum demonstrated crosswind capability of the aircraft is 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7882X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248382
- Engine
- Continental O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Seal
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AEG · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- INW
- Airport
- INW · Winslow-Lindbergh Region, runway 22, 7,499 × 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
- 60
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 45 knots, gusting 56
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- INW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7882X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.