Here Is How The Wind Was Able To Flip A Plane At Casper Airport

This airplane had already landed and was trying to taxi in from the runways. That's when it was flipped.

So, what happened?

Truck drivers fear being tipped over. On this day some Wyoming highways were closed to high-profile vehicles just for that reason.

Imagine how the pilot of a Cessna 172 felt when his plane was flipped upside down after landing.

The pilot was the only person in the plane when it happened.

Let's look at how this can happen.

A pilot can handle a windy landing. It's the gust factor that will kick a small plane around and make flying a dangerous challenge.

Despite the heavy wind and gusts this pilot managed to safely land his plane.

But then he has to turn onto the taxiway.

That's when it gets scary.

The wind is now coming from the side of the airplane and pushing up from under the wing that is into the wind.

On the ground, a pilot steers with his feet. The bottom of the peddles steer the nose gear and the rudder. The tops of the peddles are breaks for the left and right tire.

The pilot would have turned the yoke toward the wind so the ailerons, which control banking, would be down, against the wind.

This is an attempt to make the wing dive down during a strong gust, rather than lift up.

But even if the pilot is doing everything correctly it's hard to stop an 80mph gust from flipping such a light plane. A Cessna 172 is just a 4-seater. It doesn't weigh much.

Bigger commercial planes weigh much more and, while they might get rocked around a bit, are not so prone to flipping.

The plane tail identifier is N739UE. The plane is registered to AMERICAN PATROLS INC. Midland Texas.

Looking closely at the upside down plane clear damage to the wings and rudder can be seen.

Chances are the rest of the airplane is fine.

The pilot is okay. He's going to have a story to tell for the rest of his life.