CHI01LA040

Factual narrative

On November 18, 2000, at 1605 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 150K, N562GS, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it was flipped over in a crosswind while taxiing to runway 31 (7,493 feet by 150 feet, dry concrete) at the Minot International Airport, Minot, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The instructor pilot and dual student on board the airplane reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In her written statement, the instructor pilot said that the "winds reported on prebrief were 290 [degrees] at 24 [knots]." She said that they were given taxi instructions, "[taxiway] f, R/W (runway) 8, R (right) on [taxiway] c", and "after turning R (right), keep left on [the] T/W (taxiway)." The instructor pilot said that after executing the instructions, "slush was encountered on the left side. That, coupled with a sudden increase in wind speed - gust, made the A/C (aircraft) skid to the left ... The nose sank into a snow bank ... We were nose down for a couple of seconds." As they were preparing to exit the airplane, the instructor pilot said, "the nose submerged further and the tail moved upwards progressively till the A/C (aircraft) laid upside down." In his written statement, the student pilot said that while turning on to taxiway "c", he put in wind corrections for a right tailwind and made his turn to the left side of the taxiway. The student pilot said that a gust of wind pushed the airplane off of the taxiway. The left main and nose gear were off the prepared surface. "We proceeded to shut down the engine and another gust of wind flipped the plane over." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at Minot International Airport. Both wings were bent aft at the roots. The airplane's fuselage showed numerous bends and wrinkles. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine, engine controls, and other systems revealed no anomalies. At 1605 cst, the local weaather observation at the Minot International Airport reported winds of 290 degrees at 24 knots. The instructor pilot said that the "winds reported on prebrief were 290 [degrees] at 24 [knots]. She said that they were given taxi instructions to runway 31 at the Minot International Airport, "[taxiway] f, R/W (runway) 8, R (right) on [taxiway] c", and "after turning R (right), keep left on [the] T/W (taxiway). The instructor pilot said that after executing the instructions, "slush was encountered on the left side. That, coupled with a sudden increase in wind speed - gust, made the airplane skid to the left ... The nose sank into a snow bank." As they were preparing to exit the airplane, the instructor pilot said, "the nose submerged further and the tail moved upwards progressively till the aircraft laid upside down." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. At 1605 cst, the local weather observation at the Minot International Airport reported winds of 290 degrees at 24 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12