Augusta Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Augusta, Georgia 30906
Tuesady, May 20, 2008 15:46 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot taxied the airplane to the active runway, observing thunderstorms approaching from a distance. As precipitation became heavy and hailstones began to fall, he requested to taxi back. After being cleared, he continued to the ramp area and encountered a strong wind. The airplane began to rock, tipping the right wing downward on the taxiway surface. The hail became so severe that the pilot could not see out the windshield, nor could he control the airplane. The airplane came to rest inverted approximately 65 feet off the taxiway. The Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Reports around the time of the accident indicated winds at 11 knots, gusting to 18 with heavy thunderstorm and rain activity. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate decision to taxi during thunderstorm activity and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were thunderstorms and wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1546
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Augusta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30906
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332211N
Event Location Longitude 0815752W
Event Location Airport Augusta Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AGS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 144
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 144
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.58
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23832
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7050S
NTSB Number LAX08CA148
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15067750
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4353
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Gospel Ministries International
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ooltewah
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37363
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KAGS
Departure City Augusta
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3M3
Destination City COLLEGEDALE
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2008 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --