- Date
- October 15, 1995, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Albion, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N72239Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951015033019A
- Case key
- 39112
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 inadequate planning/decision and compensation for wind conditions, resulting in the airplane nosing over during the taxi.
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 observed the windsock sticking straight out and down runway 27. During the back taxi for takeoff, to runway 27, the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The FAA inspector stated, '...[the pilot] stated that he did not call flight service to check the actual wind direction and velocity being reported in the area....[the pilot] indicated that he was aware of the strong wind conditions but he decided to...taxi to the runway and see if he had any problems controlling the airplane in the wind....' The winds were reported at rochester, new york, at 1450, from 260 degrees at 23 knots with gusts up to 35 knots.
Factual narrative
On October 15, 1995, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72239, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the taxi for takeoff at the Gaines Valley Aviation Airport, Albion, New York. The private pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported he planned to depart Albion for a local flight. The pilot observed the windsock sticking straight out and straight down the runway. During the back taxi for takeoff, on runway 27, the airplane nosed over.
Additionally, in the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated:
...[The pilot] stated that he did not call Flight Service to check the actual wind direction and velocity being reported in the area....[The pilot] indicated that he was aware of the strong wind conditions but he decided to get the airplane out of the hangar and taxi to the runway and see if he had any problems controlling the airplane in the wind....[The pilot] stated that as he was taxing downwind, the control wheel was being held in the full forward position and that he had not used the brakes during taxi. As the airplane got 300 [to] 400 feet of the departure end of the runway, the tail suddenly came up, and the airplane went over on it's back....
The winds at Rochester, New york, at 1450, were reported from 260 degrees at 23 knots with gusts up to 35 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72239
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9412
- Airframe hours
- 2,999
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Leonard Defazio
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 14, 1995 · 2,198 hours before
- Departed
- NY06
- Airport
- NY06 · Gaines Valley Aviation, runway 27, 4,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 272 total · 240 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 23 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROC, 24 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.