# NTSB NYC96LA068: Cessna 172M, N61992, Bedford, MA, March 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 1996, 14:57 local (19:57 UTC) - Place: Bedford, MA - Location: 42.4699° N, 71.2890° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (BED), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4699&lon=-71.2890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39154 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39154/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA068 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, the pilot's improper compensation for the wind conditions, and the high wind. The instructor's inadequate evaluation of the weather was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, standing - engine(s) operating - weather condition - high wind (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause) - weather evaluation - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor) ## Analysis After returning from a cross-country flight and landing on runway 29, the student pilot stopped on a taxiway with the airplane heading about 200 degrees. The pilot reported: '...I landed very smoothly on runway 29...I throttled up a bit to expedite. Right wing wanted to lift. I set ailerons to compensate. I exited (the taxiway), crossed the threshold...A sudden sustained gust of wind came from my right rear. Stick was full forward and full left ailreon ... Right rear continued to lift and turned plane over ...' The winds were reported at 300 degrees at 28 knots. The student pilot was returning from a cross-country flight where he had diverted due to high winds and then received verbal approval to return home. Winds at the time of departure and arrival were in excess of the limitation placed in the student pilot's log book. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 1996, at 1457 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N61992, nosed over while stopped on a taxiway at Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured, and the airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight, which had departed Portland, Maine at 1408, had been operating on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot was completing a solo cross-country flight. The flight originated at Bedford, at 0950, and was destined for Lewiston, Maine; however, due to en route winds, he diverted to Portland. He then telephoned his flight instructor, and discussed the situation with him. His flight instructor verbally approved his return flight, after which the student pilot departed for Bedford. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...I landed very smoothly on runway 29...I throttle[d] up a bit to expedite exit. Right wing wanted to lift. I set ailerons to compensate. I exited at taxiway golf, crossed the threshold...A sudden sustained gust of wind came from my right rear. Stick was full forward and full left aileron. I was fully stopped. Right rear continued to lift and turned plane over.... In a telephone interview, the student pilot reported that the airplane was stopped, and pointed about 90 degrees to the runway (about 200 degrees), on taxiway GOLF, when the nose over occurred. The control tower reported winds of 300 degrees, at 28 knots, about 30 seconds prior to the accident, and winds from 320 degrees, at 24 knots, about 30 seconds after the accident. The student pilot's log book contained a cross-country endorsement with a wind limitation of 15 knots, which his flight instructor said applied to steady winds, and the student pilot reported he was unaware of. No record of a briefing from either an FAA Flight Service Station or DUAT was found under the student pilot's or flight instructor's name, or the airplane registration number. The flight school had checked the weather at 0938 via DUAT on March 4, 1996, and posted it for their students. The data indicated that the winds at the planned destination of Lewiston were from 320 degrees, 16 knots, with gusts to 23 knots. The terminal forecasts for Boston, Portland, and Augusta, Maine, had forecasts for sustained winds and/or gusts in excess of 15 knots through 2100. An AIRMET was in affect for turbulence; however, it was not printed on the DUAT weather briefing because the option for AIRMETS was not selected. The student pilot had received a weather briefing prior to departure from Portland. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61992](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61992-2008-07-15), registration cancelled 2008-07-15, S/N 17264943, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264943 - Airframe hours: 8473 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Executive Flyers Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 17, 1995, 92 hours before - Departed: PWM, PORTLAND, ME - Destination: BED - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BED, Hanscom Field, runway 29, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 51 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 28 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BED ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960304003499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960304003499A), Mar 4, 1996: Cessna 172M, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. After exiting runway, caught by a gust of wind and flipped over. ## Other investigations on N61992 (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD76FHD23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76FHD23), Apr 4, 1976: Cessna 172 (N61992), Milford, DE, substantial damage 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.