C172 loses control during taxi at dpa and ends up in the grass but sustains no damage.

Attributes
ACN	423158
Time
Date	199812
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dpa
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	423158
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 220 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	423164
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were taxiing out for takeoff with wind from behind the aircraft and blowing at about 10 KTS steady. The pilot flying from the left seat was a private pilot with about 250 hours and 75 in C172. At one point on the parallel taxiway for runway 28, he allowed taxi speed to increase to an unsafe rate. I commented on it and he slowed. I looked down to program the GPS unit. Near the end of the taxiway there is a curve to the right. The other pilot said 'help' and I looked up to see that the aircraft was not turning and was proceeding into the grass. I applied full brake and right rudder, but the aircraft continued straight and stopped in the grass. At the time I felt that the brake (right) had failed, but inspection by a mechanic showed no abnormality. I feel we lost control due to a combination of the lack of adequate speed control, the tailwind, and overconfidence. Even though the flight was not an instructional flight, I should have been supervising closer and not so complacent. Luckily the aircraft was not damaged and no one was hurt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 LOSES CTL DURING TAXI AT DPA AND ENDS UP IN THE GRASS BUT SUSTAINS NO DAMAGE.

Narrative: WE WERE TAXIING OUT FOR TKOF WITH WIND FROM BEHIND THE ACFT AND BLOWING AT ABOUT 10 KTS STEADY. THE PLT FLYING FROM THE L SEAT WAS A PVT PLT WITH ABOUT 250 HRS AND 75 IN C172. AT ONE POINT ON THE PARALLEL TXWY FOR RWY 28, HE ALLOWED TAXI SPD TO INCREASE TO AN UNSAFE RATE. I COMMENTED ON IT AND HE SLOWED. I LOOKED DOWN TO PROGRAM THE GPS UNIT. NEAR THE END OF THE TXWY THERE IS A CURVE TO THE R. THE OTHER PLT SAID 'HELP' AND I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT TURNING AND WAS PROCEEDING INTO THE GRASS. I APPLIED FULL BRAKE AND R RUDDER, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND STOPPED IN THE GRASS. AT THE TIME I FELT THAT THE BRAKE (R) HAD FAILED, BUT INSPECTION BY A MECH SHOWED NO ABNORMALITY. I FEEL WE LOST CTL DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SPD CTL, THE TAILWIND, AND OVERCONFIDENCE. EVEN THOUGH THE FLT WAS NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPERVISING CLOSER AND NOT SO COMPLACENT. LUCKILY THE ACFT WAS NOT DAMAGED AND NO ONE WAS HURT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.