Cessna 172 N7450X accident near Greenville, Maine

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing in gusting crosswind conditions.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, after a normal landing in gusting headwind conditions, he turned onto an intersecting runway, which resulted in gusting crosswind conditions. He added that he positioned the flight controls to compensate for the crosswind but that, after taxiing about 150 ft on the runway, the left wing lifted, and the airplane veered to the right and then nosed over on snow-covered terrain.

The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, recorded wind from 300° at 13 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The pilot reported that he was taxiing on runway 3.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA17CA175 for the full record.