# Accident 20050302002029A: Cessna 305A, Bartow, FL, March 2, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2005, 12:25 local time
- Place: Bartow, FL
- Airport: Bartow Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Touch And Go Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9433° N, 81.7833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9433&lon=-81.7833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54550, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54550) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna-Vansant Interprises-Inc 305A (registry code 207408E, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-vansant-interprises-inc-305a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A
- Reported engine: CONT O470*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,980 total, 1 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA05CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050302002029A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH, 2005, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING A CESSNA L-19 BIRD DOG (CESSNA 305A) ON A SALES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^, THE BUYER, WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT IN THE FRONT SEAT AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND, WITH ^PRIVACY DA^ (THE SELLER) IN THE REAR SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ BY ALLOWING HIM TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOTS ENTERED THE BARTOW MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN TO EXECUTE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. UPON LANDING ON RUNWAY 9R, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ EXECUTED A THREE POINT LANDING. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE ROLL IN PREPARATION TO TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ LOST CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH NO INJURIESTO THE PILOTS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA05CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA068), Mar 2, 2005: Cessna 305A (N54550), Bartow, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain directional control resulting in the airplane ground-looping. A factor in the accident was the pilots lack of total experience in the airplane make and model.

## Other reports on N54550 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19850507018682A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850507018682A), May 7, 1985: Cessna 305A (N54550), Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. Struck by out of control glider 4033 during taxi after landing. Tow aircraft was returning for next tow.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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