What happened
On 19 December 2005, a Cessna 182 K, registration ZS-PFO, was conducting a private flight from Tempe Aerodrome to Kimberley Aerodrome. Following a successful landing on Runway 28, the pilot began taxiing toward the intersection of Runway 02/20. The intention was to turn right onto Runway 02 to exit the runway via taxiway Alpha toward the terminal apron.
During this taxi maneuver, a sudden, powerful gust of wind struck the aircraft from the left side. This force caused the left wing to lift abruptly, leading the right wing tip to strike the ground. The impact also caused the propeller to hit the surface. There were no injuries reported, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the right wing tip.
The investigation
Investigators examined the meteorological conditions and the pilot's recent experience. While the pilot's experience on this specific aircraft type was limited to only 4.4 hours following a recent conversion, the aircraft's maintenance records were found to be in order. The Cessna 182 K held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, and its most recent Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed approximately two months prior to the event.
Air Traffic Control records provided critical context regarding the weather. Although the pilot experienced the impact during a period of good visibility, the controller on duty confirmed that wind gusts at the time reached as high as 57 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a strong wind gust from the left that disrupted the aircraft's stability during taxi.
- The force of the wind was sufficient to lift the left wing, resulting in the right wing tip and propeller making contact with the ground.