Incident Overview
A Piper aircraft, registration N66RA, overturned while awaiting takeoff at Reading, Pennsylvania. The aircraft was struck by a gust of wind while crossing the holding line, causing it to tip onto its nose and right wing. The pilot was unable to recover, shut down the aircraft, and evacuated. A few minutes later, another wind gust pushed the aircraft inverted.
Sequence of Events
After engine startup, the tower advised N66RA to hold for landing traffic, which was a Lear jet. At that time, the wind was reported from 310 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. After the Lear jet landed, the Piper was cleared into position and instructed to hold. While crossing the holding line, a wind gust caught the right wing and tail, pushing the aircraft onto its nose and right wing. The pilot was unable to recover, turned off the aircraft, and evacuated. Approximately a few minutes later, another wind gust pushed the aircraft inverted.
Winds and Conditions
Wind conditions were reported from 310 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Later, the tower reported wind from 310 degrees at 27 knots. The aircraft was on the ground at the time, and the gust that caused the overturn was not explicitly quantified beyond the reported gusts.
Aftermath
The aircraft ended up inverted after the second gust. The pilot had already evacuated. No further details on damage or injuries are available from the source.