Summary
On March 30, 1997, a Cessna 172 (N5115K) was involved in an incident near Auburn, WA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilots' inadequate evaluation of the strong winds, when they attempted to turn to taxi with a very strong tailwind. Factors relating to the accident included the high and unfavorable winds.
On March 30, 1997, approximately 1300 Pacific standard time, N5115K, a Cessna 172, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in strong winds while taxiing from the active runway at Auburn, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his student, who was a non-current certified flight instructor taking a biannual flight review, were uninjured in the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight had departed Auburn about 1210. The ELT was not actuated.
The flight instructor stated that after departure, they had contacted Renton ATCT, and found that the winds were approximately 30 knots directly across the runway.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA97LA080. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5115K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilots' inadequate evaluation of the strong winds, when they attempted to turn to taxi with a very strong tailwind. Factors relating to the accident included the high and unfavorable winds.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 30, 1997, approximately 1300 Pacific standard time, N5115K, a Cessna 172, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in strong winds while taxiing from the active runway at Auburn, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his student, who was a non-current certified flight instructor taking a biannual flight review, were uninjured in the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight had departed Auburn about 1210. The ELT was not actuated.
The flight instructor stated that after departure, they had contacted Renton ATCT, and found that the winds were approximately 30 knots directly across the runway. They then made a low approach at Boeing Field, where they also found the winds excessive, and then returned to Auburn, where the landing was successful. After landing in strong crosswinds, the CFI receiving a flight review turned off the active runway to taxi to the ramp. When turning off the runway to the east, away from the prevailing winds, the two CFI's found the winds too excessive to taxi, and decided to turn into the wind again. Before completing the turn, the winds picked up the tail. The airplane nosed over, sustaining damage to the right wing, vertical fin and rudder, and the tailcone.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA97LA080