The pilot performed stop and go landings, at a private dirt airstrip in Drexel, Missouri.
After his third landing, while taxiing to the east for takeoff, he reported encountering several wind gusts that nosed the Piper PA 22-135 over.
The airstrip is located between two weather reporting stations. Winds for the area were out of the south at 14 knots with wind gusts at 23 knots.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, fuselage, and lift struts.
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while taxiing in unfavorable wind conditions.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA036
This April 2015 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.
That’s why the Tri-Pacer and Colt were known as “Three Legged Milk Stools”. Ground handling, especially turning downwind, had to be done with care as they tip over like a three legged milk stool with any side load. Taxiing faster only makes it worse. Most didn’t have differential brakes either. Though they won’t stand up on their nose like many tail-draggers it is quite easy to tip them over to the 10:30 or 1:30 direction and end up on your back. Ya’ll be careful out there!
Drove a 1960 metalized Tri-Pacer for several years and never experienced anything like what you describe. Of course I wasn’t so stupid as to try and operate one in a gale force wind either nor would I do so in any other type or model. Yes stuff happens but more often than not its because some pilot had his/her head up and locked where the sun never shines.
Though it isn’t clear in this report why this incident happened, we need to be reminded that taxi operations in high wind conditions usually require keeping power applied for prop-blast to reduce the wind effect against the aircraft profile.
It requires using some braking but up to maximum thrust could be used to assure canceling most of the wind effect.