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LAX91LA119

1991-03-02 · RENO, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RNO

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION.

Factual narrative

THE 1432-HOUR COMMERCIAL PILOT LISTENED TO THE LOCAL ATIS BROADCAST WHICH REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, AND HE PROCEEDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS TAXI CLEARANCE. ENROUTE TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY THE PILOT STOPPED HIS AIRPLANE ON A 070 DEGREE HEADING TO ALLOW GROUND TRAFFIC TO PASS HIS POSITION. WHILE HOLDING, A GUST OF WIND UPSET HIS AIRPLANE TIPPING IT INTO ITS NOSE AND LEFT WING. TWO MINUTES LATER THE GROUND CONTROLLER NOTIFIED ANOTHER AIRPLANE THAT THE WIND WAS PRESENTLY FROM 150 DEGREES AT 40 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA119.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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