On October 15, 1995, a Cessna 140 (registration N72239) was involved in an aviation accident near Albion, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate planning/decision and compensation for wind conditions, resulting in the airplane nosing over during the taxi. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a back taxi for takeoff on Runway 27, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical issues and had observed the windsock indicating strong winds from the runway direction.
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.