Incident Overview
A general aviation airplane nosed over while performing a back taxi for takeoff on Runway 27. The pilot had previously observed the windsock, which was sticking straight out and aligned down the runway, indicating strong wind conditions.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot did not contact Flight Service to check the actual wind direction and velocity reported in the area. The pilot indicated awareness of the strong wind conditions but chose to taxi to the runway to assess whether any problems controlling the airplane would arise.
Weather Conditions
Meteorological reports from Rochester, New York, at 1450 indicated winds from 260 degrees at 23 knots with gusts up to 35 knots.