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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 31, 1994 · Cessna 172F · N8210U

Tonopah, NV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 31, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Tonopah, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 172F
Tail Number
N8210U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX95LA025

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TAXIING IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. HE SAID HE TRIED TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE'S TAXI SPEED SLOW AND WAS APPLYING MINIMUM POWER WITH THE CONTROL YOKE FORWQRD (ELEVATOR DOWN). WHILE TAXIING, THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE LANDING GEAR BEGAN TO SHIMMY. THE PILOT PULLED THE CONTROL YOKE BACK AND APPLIED BRAKING TO CORRECT THE NOSE SHIMMY. HE SAID THAT THE WIND RAISED THE TAIL AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO 'WHEELBARROW' ON THE NOSEGEAR AND TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE TAXIWAY AND ENTERED ONTO THE SOFT DIRT NEXT TO THE TAXIWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BERM AND NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's excessive taxi speed and improper remedial action after the nose gear began to shimmy. The nose gear shimmy (nose gear vibration) and the berm were factors in this accident.

Full Narrative

On October 30, 1994, at 1645 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172F, N8210U, lost control, exited the taxiway, and nosed over while taxiing for takeoff on runway 33 at Tonopah Airport, Tonopah, Nevada. The pilot was beginning the second leg of a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. National Transportation Safety Board investigators conducted a telephone interview with the pilot on October 30, 1994. The pilot said that as the airplane approached the runway threshold a gust of wind "blew it off the taxiway." When the nose gear entered the soft terrain, it dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said in the aircraft accident report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was taxiing in a southeasterly direction with a left quartering tailwind. He said he tried to keep the airplane's taxi slow and was applying minimum power with the control yoke forward (elevator down). While taxiing, the airplane's nose landing gear began to shimmy. The pilot pulled the control yoke back and applied braking to correct the nose shimmy. He said that the wind raised the tail and the airplane began to "wheelbarrow" on the nosegear and turned to the left. The airplane exited the taxiway and entered onto the soft dirt next to the taxiway. The airplane collided with a berm and nosed over. The Tonopah Airport surface winds at 1650 hours were from 290 degrees at 10 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 PST
Nearest AirportTONOPAH (0nm)
Runway33
Runway Length6162 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172F
Tail NumberN8210U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data