- Date
- February 24, 1995, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Saratoga Spgs, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N7002QCessna 172L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950224002569A
- Case key
- 38924
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 poor judgment in attempting a flight under the existing wind conditions.
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 stated that while taxiing for takeoff, he stopped to determine which runway to use; rwy 23 0R 32. While the airplane was stopped on the taxiway on a heading of approx 360 deg, the right wing and tail were lifted off the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The weather observation facility at the airport reported the winds from 280 deg at 26 KTS, gusting to 36 KTS.
Factual narrative
On Friday, February 24, 1995 about 1215 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172L, N7002Q piloted by William E. Huber on an instructional flight was substantially damaged during taxi at Saratoga Springs, New York. The two flight instructors received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated, he departed Albany, New York on a local training flight with a planned stop at Saratoga County. He landed on runway 23 at Saratoga County. He went inside for some coffee and estimated the winds got stronger during that time. During the taxi for takeoff, he stopped to determine which runway to takeoff, 23 or 32. The airplane was stopped on the taxiway on a heading of approximately 360 degrees and the right wing and tail were lifted off the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated he was using crosswind taxi techniques in accordance with the amplified procedures in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH).
The weather observation facility at Saratoga County at 1215 est, reported the winds from 280 degrees at 26 knots with gusts up to 37 knots.
The crosswind component chart showed a maximum crosswind component of 24 knots for runway 32 and 29 knots for runway 23. While on the taxiway, the maximum crosswind component was 36 knots.
The POH stated, "Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind Velocity: Takeoff or Landing...15 KNOTS".
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7002Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 172L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17260302
- Airframe hours
- 5,528
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Huber, William E.
- Registered owner
- Huber, William E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 31, 1995 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- ALB · Albany, NY
- Airport
- 5B2 · Saratoga County
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
- 70
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,600 total · 4,500 in this make and model · 15,420 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 48 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 26 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 5B2
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 N7002Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.