Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to compensate for the gusty wind conditions during taxi for takeoff.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot added power to taxi to the active runway. He encountered two strong gusts of wind from the right rear of the airplane, and the airplane nose over and came to rest on its nose. The pilot stated he did not use the elevator, nor the aileron controls to compensate for the wind.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 14, 1994, about 1330 eastern standard time, N9054X, a Cessna 182D registered to Austin Air Consultants, flipped over during taxi out for a proposed 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight at Deland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the intended flight to Zephryhills, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot stated that as he added power to taxi onto the active runway a gust of wind flipped the airplane over and it came to rest inverted. -