# Accident 20170729012679A: Cessna 305A, Eagle Lake, TX, July 29, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2017, 13:05 local time
- Place: Eagle Lake, TX
- Airport: Eagle Lake Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6006° N, 96.3219° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6006&lon=-96.3219&mi=10
- Aircraft: N72BD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72BD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 305A (registry code 2074002, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,135 total, 140 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA460) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170729012679A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON JULY 29, 2017, HE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION NUMBER N72BD WHEN HE AND THE AIRCRAFT OWNER (WHICH IS ALSO PILOT) DEPARTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT OWNER?S FARM RUNWAY FOR AN ORIENTATION FLIGHT.  AFTER TAKEOFF HE TOOK CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE PERFORMED SOME MANEUVERS AND THEN PROCEEDED TO EAGLE LAKE AIRPORT (KELA).  HE WAS CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND THE TIME WAS ABOUT 1145.  THE WIND WAS FROM ABOUT 210 AT ABOUT 8 KNOTS.  ON FINAL AS THEY APPROACHED JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN ON THE RUNWAY A GUST FROM THE RIGHT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN RIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE RUNWAY AND HEADED OFF THE PAVEMENT.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AT THAT TIME THE AIRCRAFT OWNER SAID ?I?VE GOT IT?.  THE AIRCRAFT HIT A RUNWAY LIGHT AND THEN GROUND LOOPED IN A RIGHT TURN ON THE ADJOINING GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO THE RAMP.  NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE PILOT ADDED THAT HE WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND BUT NOT PERFORMING AS A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND THE SKIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE BEHIND THE REAR WINDOW AREA.

## 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 GAA17CA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA460), Jul 29, 2017: Cessna 305 (N72BD), Eagle Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in variable wind conditions.

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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