NTSB Factual Report

On February 11, 2003, at 1515 central standard time, a Cessna 182F, N3455U, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while taxiing during high wind conditions. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed Osage, Iowa, at 1400, and landed at Estherville Municipal Airport (EST), Estherville, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported he checked the EST Automated Weather Observating System (AWOS) while en route. He reported the winds were from 310 degrees magnetic at 20-40 knots. He landed safely and began taxiing slowly toward a hangar while applying "full wind correction" of the flight controls. He taxied onto the grass so that he could taxi to the hangar with a quartering headwind. He reported there was snow on the grass and the "wind was making us skid a little," and about "100 feet from the runway we slowly went up on our nose causing a prop strike," and "then we went over."

The winds recorded at 1515 at the Fairmont Municipal Airport (FSM), Fairmont, Minnesota, located about 22 miles northeast of Estherville were 330 degrees at 40 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot failed to maintain adequate control of the airplane while taxiing in high wind conditions. A factor was the high winds.