No fatalities

Aircraft Flips Over While Taxiing on Runway Due to Wind Gust

North Las Vegas, NV, United States

On April 28, 2010, a CESSNA 172 P operated by Douglas Hool was involved in an aviation accident near North Las Vegas, NV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions during taxi. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During taxi on runway 12R, a gust of wind from the south lifted the right wing and nose gear, flipping the airplane onto its back. Substantial damage to wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

Accident Sequence

The pilot performed an initial landing attempt on runway 12R but aborted due to gusty wind conditions. The aircraft subsequently landed uneventfully on runway 25. After landing, the pilot received instructions to taxi to parking via runway 12R and make a right turn onto intersection Charlie. While taxiing eastbound on runway 12R, the pilot reported inputting neutral elevator and a significant amount of right aileron to counter a right-to-left crosswind. At that moment, the pilot stated, "I felt a significant wind gust from the south…The right wing and nose gear were lifted up off of the runway and the airplane was flipped over on its back."

Damage

Substantial damage was confirmed to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder.

Weather Conditions

Approximately 10 minutes after the accident, winds were reported from 220 degrees at 28 knots with gusts to 38 knots.

Contributing factors

PilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintainedResponse/compensation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 28 Apr 2010 CESSNA 172 P accident near North Las Vegas, NV?

During taxi on runway 12R, a gust of wind from the south lifted the right wing and nose gear, flipping the airplane onto its back. Substantial damage to wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

Were there any fatalities in the 28 Apr 2010 CESSNA 172 P accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 28 Apr 2010 involved a CESSNA 172 P, operated by Douglas Hool, at North Las Vegas, NV.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions during taxi.