# NTSB NYC95LA034: Cessna 172N, N104CT, Niagra Falls, NY, November 28, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 28, 1994, 13:33 local (18:33 UTC)
- Place: Niagra Falls, NY
- Coordinates: 43.10007, -78.950119 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1001&lon=-78.9501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38904/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA034

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND THE ON GROUND ENCOUNTER WITH GUSTY WINDS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - to takeoff
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, taxi - to takeoff

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING SHORT OF AND PERPENDICULAR TO RUNWAY 24 WHEN THE AIRPPLANE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST AND ROLLED OVER.  THE PILOT INDICATED HE HAD NOTICED THE WINDS WERE INCREASING AND HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO REQUEST CLEARANCE TO TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT,  '...[THE] WIND MOVE[D] [THE] AIRPLANE SIDE WAYS, THEN CARTWHEELED IT ON [THE] RIGHT WING, FLIPPING IT OVER....'  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 025 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 48 KNOTS.

## Factual narrative

On November 28, 1994, at 1333 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N104CT, owned and piloted by Harold Hawly, was substantially damaged while taxiing at the Niagara Falls Airport, Niagara Falls, New York.  The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot was taxiing the airplane to runway 24, and had turned onto a taxiway that was perpendicular to the runway.  The airplane encountered a gust wind, and flipped over.  At the time of the accident the winds were reported to be 025 degrees at 25 knots, with gusts to 48 knots.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he was holding at the side of runway 24, when the wind gusts started to intensify.  The pilot wrote that he was getting ready to notify the tower he wanted to return, and park when the, "...wind move[d] [the] airplane side ways then cartwheeled it on [the] right wing flipping it over...."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N104CT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267671
- Airframe hours: 1880
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold Hawly
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1994, 20 hours before
- Destination: BKL, CLEVELAND, OH
- Airport: IAG, Niagara Falls, runway 24, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,244 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,197 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 25° at 25 knots, gusting 48
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAG

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.