Tonopah Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tonopah, Nevada 89049
Monday, November 26, 1990 12:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE 74-HOUR PRIVATE PILOT, DURING HIS X-C FLIGHT HE HAD RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SURFACE WIND AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS 25 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH THE UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT LANDED, EXITED THE RUNWAY, ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO THE NOSE OVER EVENT THE UNICOM OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS 40 KNOTS WITH GUST TO 60 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKING WEATHER EVALUATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/26/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TONOPAH
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89049
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TONOPAH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TPH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5426
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 40
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 60
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2232
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 26 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43992
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79551
NTSB Number LAX91LA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17258170
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOUBLE EAGLE AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6961 S. APRON DRIVE
Operator City TUCSON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85706
Operator Code ARYA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WMC
Departure City WINNEMUCCA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 7162
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --