Accident Summary
A positioning flight concluded with an unexpected nose-over after the airplane encountered a strong tailwind while maneuvering on the ground. The airline transport certificated pilot had exited the runway via a taxiway and was proceeding toward the ramp area of the airport. As the pilot turned the airplane toward the parking area, a right quartering tailwind lifted the tail of the airplane, causing the airplane to nose over. The incident resulted in damage to the left wing, left wing strut, and vertical stabilizer.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, a special weather observation at the airport reported winds from 160 degrees true at 26 knots, with gusts to 35 knots. This wind information provided an indication of the challenging conditions present during the ground maneuver.
Pilot's Weather Information
The pilot indicated that his source of weather information was the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS) and a wind check with the air traffic control tower. According to the pilot, the reported wind was 130 degrees magnetic at 22 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The discrepancy between the observed wind and the pilot's reported wind highlights the variability of wind conditions at the time.