ALLENTOWN, PA, USA
N6114E
CESSNA 172
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND DURING TAXI OPERATIONS BY UTILIZING THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT CONTROLS. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DUE TO A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE SOUTH. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT A NEARBY WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY REPORTED THE WIND TO BE COMING FROM 270 DEGREES AT A VELOCITY OF 32 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 39 KNOTS. PEAK GUSTS WERE REPORTED TO BE 45 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT AND THOUGHT THE WEATHER '...WAS OK.'
On April 4, 1995, at 1540 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6114E, encountered a 35 to 45 knot gust of wind while taxiing at the Allentown Queen City Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage when it nosed over in the gusty wind. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was destined for the Pottstown Municipal Airport in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The pilot reported that he got a weather briefing from a Flight Service Station. He stated he thought the weather "...was Ok... ." so he decided to fly the airplane. He stated that while taxiing south for runway 32, he "...was using controls to help keep plane on the ground..." He stated that after crossing runway 25/07 a gust of wind "...got under my tail and flipped the plane up on its nose, then over onto its back." At 1450 eastern daylight time, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton weather observation facility reported the winds to be coming from 270 degrees at a velocity of 32 knots, gusting to 39 knots. Peak gusts were reported to be 45 knots. The pilot wrote on his Accident Report Form under the Recommendation's section (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), "Keep Plane tied up when it is too windy."
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Related factors were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's poor weather evaluation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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