Cessna 208B N942AC accident near Chicago, Illinois

Probable cause

An encounter with a wind gust during ground maneuvering and the captain’s improper flight control positioning to account for wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane being blown onto its left wing.

NTSB analysis

As the commercial flight crew waited for a takeoff clearance on the taxiway, the tower controller asked if they would move aside to allow other aircraft to pass. As the captain made a right turn, a wind gust lifted the right side of the airplane and turned it clockwise. The airplane came to rest on its nose and its left wing for several seconds, then fell back upright on all three landing gear. The engine was secured, and all occupants deplaned through the main cabin door. Thunderstorms were reported west of the airport, moving east at the time of the accident, and wind gusts to 45 knots were recorded about the time of the upset. It is likely that the captain did not properly position the flight controls during the turning maneuver, which led to the wind picking up the wing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15LA334 for the full record.