NTSB Factual Report

On September 14, 2001, at 0928 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N19SC, registered to Air East Services LLC and operated by the commercial pilot, nosed over inverted while taxiing from landing at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Florida. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an IFR flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, at 0630.

The pilot completed an ILS approach to runway 32 with a normal touchdown and landing roll. While taxiing clear of the runway, a gust of wind was encountered and the airplane flipped inverted. According to a diagram provided by the pilot, the airplane was positioned on a taxiway oriented 040 degrees magnetic when the event occurred. The pilot reported obtaining an outlook briefing from a flight service station the night before departing, obtaining a standard briefing via computer the morning of the departure, and the ATIS information for the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport prior to arrival. A review of recorded weather observation data at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport revealed winds were reported from 320 degrees magnetic at 34 knots gusting to 46 knots at 0932. A review of the Information Manual for the Cessna 172 revealed the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane is 15 knots.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the propeller, wings, and wing struts.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to land at an airport with high wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control on the ground during taxi operations and subsequent nose over of the airplane.