The flight instructor and the student pilot, who was on the controls, were taxiing for departure from the airport in Lancaster, California, when the Cessna 140 started to veer to the right of the taxiway centerline.
In an attempt to correct the directional movement, the student pilot applied the brakes quickly.
The flight instructor reported he could not intervene quickly enough before the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted on the taxiway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage the right wing and vertical stabilizer.
The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and his use of excessive braking while taxiing.
This December 2019 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.
