On November 19, 1991, a Cessna 182C (registration N9033T) operated by James R. Jordan was involved in an aviation accident near Ocean Shores, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a ground operation due to high wind conditions that caused the aircraft to flip inverted. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Strong gusting winds flipped an aircraft onto its back while it was stationary on the ground during a pre-flight engine runup procedure at the airport.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was positioned on the ground for a routine engine runup. During this phase of the pre-flight check, sudden and intense wind conditions caused the aircraft to lose stability and flip onto its back. The event took place at an airport where local personnel familiar with the specific microclimate noted that wind speeds in the immediate area were consistently stronger than those recorded at the official reporting station nearby.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that weather conditions played a decisive role in the accident sequence. Data from a nearby aviation weather reporting station indicated that winds were gusting to 35 knots shortly before the event. However, ground personnel with knowledge of the airport's local terrain and wind patterns reported that actual wind speeds at the location where the aircraft was parked exceeded those recorded by the automated facility. The combination of these high-velocity gusts during the stationary engine runup resulted in the aircraft being overturned.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a ground operation due to high wind conditions that caused the aircraft to flip inverted.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 19 Nov 1991 Cessna 182C accident near Ocean Shores, WA?
Strong gusting winds flipped an aircraft onto its back while it was stationary on the ground during a pre-flight engine runup procedure at the airport.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 19 Nov 1991 involved a Cessna 182C, registration N9033T, operated by James R. Jordan, at Ocean Shores, WA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a ground operation due to high wind conditions that caused the aircraft to flip inverted.
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