LAX99LA169

The pilot had been cleared for an intersection takeoff and was attempting a 360-degree turn to realign the airplane with the taxiway. The winds at the time the pilot attempted the maneuver were from 270 degrees at 20 knots, with higher gusts to 26 knots. As the tail turned into the wind during the turn, the tail lifted and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical abnormalities with the conventional gear airplane.

On May 4, 1999, at 1042 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N2403E, nosed over on a taxiway while maneuvering for an intersection departure on runway 24 at the General Fox Field Airport, Lancaster, California. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time and was scheduled to terminate at the Whiteman airport, Los Angeles, California, on the day of the accident.

The pilot stated that he had been cleared to taxi to runway 24 for takeoff and was attempting a 360-degree turn to realign the airplane with the taxiway. During the turn, he lost control of the airplane after the airplane was struck by a gust of wind that elevated the tail and nosed it over. The winds were reported to be from 270 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 26 knots at the time the pilot attempted the maneuver. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities with the airplane.

A witness reported that as the airplane's tail was turned into the wind, it was lifted up into the air and nosed the airplane over onto its back. The airplane came to a rest inverted just short of runway 24's hold short line.