The CFI reported he had completed a one hour flight with his student and they landed uneventfully at the airport in Orlando, Florida. After landing, the Cessna 172 had a long taxi to return to the FBO.During the taxi, a thunderstorm moved into the area and the wind increased. The strong wind caused the airplane to weathervane violently in one direction.
The wind then lifted the airplane, flipped it over, and it came to rest inverted on the taxiway.
Examination of the 172 by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the fuselage, wings, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer.
The recorded wind at the time of the accident was from 120° at 10 knots, gusting to 31 knots.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the flight instructor’s failure to maintain control while taxiing in a strong gusty wind.
NTSB Identification: ERA14CA317
This June 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
As a student 40 years ago I was with an owner/instructor, we landed just ahead of a stiff thunderstorm. He told me to turn into the wind and hold what ya have until the storm blew over. It seemed like hours, but was only about 20 minutes elapsed. His ship was a straight tailed C182. We beat the storm home but waited out before we taxied back in.
I’ve got a Cessna 182 and there’s something not right about this with regards to the winds and NTSB blaming the CFI. I’ve seen many times when the windsock at our airport will be indicating ten knots and 200 yards away at our hangar the wind will take the walk in door out of your hand. We have two windsocks located perhaps 3,000 yards apart and more often than not they indicate different wind directions as well as speed. Bureaucrats always have the perfect answer for everything; especially if it’s something for which they should take the responsibility.
Sounds like strong outflow from a microburst. There is only a limited amount one can do at the controls when you get caught up in that. I find it incredible the NTSB blamed the instructor for getting blown over while trying to get to the tiedowns/hangar. I would also bet he was caught up in localized gusts that weren’t registered at the weather station on the field.
Well it’s somebody’s fault that the damn thing wound up upside down on a taxiway! Didn’t hold aileron in? Thirty knots isn’t that crazy. Like someone else posted, turn the thing into the wind and sit there. It won’t get flipped then.
Twice in the last year my C150 tail was lifted and the plane yawed three feet while securely tied down during a thunder storm. Once in St Petersburg, FL and again in central North Carolina. The weather monitoring equipment at the airport does not always reflect the highest gusts associated with the thunder storm.
Does this wind and accident sound right to you?
Other wind?
Someone who operates Cessnas in this wind please reply.
It takes more than 30 to get my Swift off the ground.
Ray
Mohave Valley, AZ