On November 26, 1990, a Cessna 172 (registration N79551) operated by Double Eagle Aviation Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Tonopah, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKING WEATHER EVALUATIONS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A private pilot with 74 hours of flight experience lost control and nosed over after landing, following a wind gust. The UNICOM operator reported varying wind speeds during the approach.
Incident Details
A private pilot with 74 hours of flight experience experienced a loss of control and nose-over after landing during a cross-country flight. According to the pilot's report, he had received weather briefings and was informed that the surface wind at his destination airport was 25 knots. During the landing approach, the UNICOM operator reported that the wind was 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The pilot landed and exited the runway, at which point he encountered a wind gust, lost control of the airplane, and nosed over.
Pilot Report
The pilot further reported that several minutes prior to the nose-over event, the UNICOM operator had reported that the surface wind was 40 knots with gusts to 60 knots. No other information regarding the aircraft, registration, or injuries was provided in the report.
What happened in the 26 Nov 1990 Cessna 172 accident near Tonopah, NV?
A private pilot with 74 hours of flight experience lost control and nosed over after landing, following a wind gust. The UNICOM operator reported varying wind speeds during the approach.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Nov 1990 involved a Cessna 172, registration N79551, operated by Double Eagle Aviation Inc., at Tonopah, NV.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKING WEATHER EVALUATIONS.
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