# NTSB SEA97LA080: Cessna 172, N5115K, Auburn, WA, March 30, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 1997, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Auburn, WA - Coordinates: 47.310661, -122.220451 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3107&lon=-122.2205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42578/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA080 ## Probable cause the pilots' inadequate evaluation of the strong winds, when they attempted to turn to taxi with a very strong tailwind. Factors relating to the accident included the high and unfavorable winds. ## Analysis After landing in strong crosswinds, the flight instructor (CFI), receiving a flight review, turned off the active runway to taxi to the ramp. When turning off the runway to the east, away from the prevailing winds, the two CFI's found the winds too excessive to taxi, and decided to turn into the wind again. Before completing the turn, the winds picked up the tail. The airplane nosed over, sustaining damage to the right wing, vertical fin, rudder, and tailcone. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 1997, approximately 1300 Pacific standard time, N5115K, a Cessna 172, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in strong winds while taxiing from the active runway at Auburn, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his student, who was a non-current certified flight instructor taking a biannual flight review, were uninjured in the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight had departed Auburn about 1210. The ELT was not actuated. The flight instructor stated that after departure, they had contacted Renton ATCT, and found that the winds were approximately 30 knots directly across the runway. They then made a low approach at Boeing Field, where they also found the winds excessive, and then returned to Auburn, where the landing was successful. After landing in strong crosswinds, the CFI receiving a flight review turned off the active runway to taxi to the ramp. When turning off the runway to the east, away from the prevailing winds, the two CFI's found the winds too excessive to taxi, and decided to turn into the wind again. Before completing the turn, the winds picked up the tail. The airplane nosed over, sustaining damage to the right wing, vertical fin and rudder, and the tailcone. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, taxi - from landing - weather evaluation - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - remedial action - not attained, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5115K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5115K-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 17273975, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273975 - Airframe hours: 8989 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Auburn Flight Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1997, 20 hours before - Departed: S50 - Airport: S50, Auburn Municipal, runway 16, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,320 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,272 as pilot in command, 208 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 30 knots - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970330018789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970330018789A), Mar 30, 1997: Cessna 172N, Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. Two CFI giving other biennial were blow over taxiing in severe surface wind. Thirty knot wind too much to taxi. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.