Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's poor judgment in attempting flight in the existing wind conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he positioned the airplane in the run-up area with the nose into the wind. While performing the run-up, a swirling gust of wind contacted the airplane. The pilot added power to try to keep the tail down, but the tail continued to rise and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. At the time of the accident, the automated weather observation/reporting system on the airport was reporting the wind from 190 degrees at 29 knots, with gusts to 40 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1995, at 0730 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA- 22, N932A, nosed over in the run-up area at the La Grande Airport, La Grande Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was preparing for take off and was destined for Weiser, Idaho. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he had positioned the airplane into the wind and was performing the pre- flight run-up when a swirling gust of wind contacted the airplane. The pilot added power to try to keep the tail down, however, the tail continued to rise and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. The La Grande Automated Weather Observing/Reporting System (AWOS) at 0735, reported the winds from 190 degrees at 29 knots with gusts to 40 knots. At 0755, the winds were reported from 180 degrees at 29 knots with gusts to 45 knots. -