# Accident 20230617012989A: Cessna 305C (0-1E), Big Bear, CA, June 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2023, 14:25 local time
- Place: Big Bear, CA
- Airport: Big Bear
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2638° N, 116.8560° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10
- Aircraft: N62TX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62TX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 305C (0-1E) (registry code 2074014, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305c-0-1e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305C (0-1E)
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 2,700 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA229) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230617012989A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 17,2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1425 PDT TIME, CESSNA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AN L19 BIRDDOG GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING RUNWAY 08 AT BIG BEAR AIRPORT IN CA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT MANAGER ON JULY 19. 2023 IT WAS MADE APPARENT THAT THE WIND ON THAT DAY WAS UNSTABLE AND MOVING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, THE RIVERSIDE FSDO WAS ALSO ABLE TO TALK WITH THE PILOT ON AUGUST 02, 2023, WHO STATED THAT THE WIND WAS A FACTOR, BUT THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE GROUND LOOP WAS A PIN THAT BROKE IN THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY KEEPING IT FROM LOCKING IN CONNECTION WITH THE RUDDER FOR STEERING DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING. THIS CAN BE A FACTOR DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND CROSSWIND LANDINGS SUCH AS THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN MINOR IF IT WASN’T FOR THE DRAINAGE DITCH THAT RUNS ALONG THE RUNWAY AT BIG BEAR. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE DITCH CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND OTHER COMPONENTS.  THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED AT THIS TIME, WITH NO FURTHER ACTION.

SAS TASK ID T-WP21-FY23-0339

## 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 WPR23LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA229), Jun 17, 2023: Cessna 305C (0-1E) (N62TX), Big Bear City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.

## Other reports on N62TX (1)

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

- [Incident 20161123019289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161123019289I), Nov 23, 2016: Cessna 305C (0-1E) (N62TX), Bergheim, TX, No damage. On November 23, 2017, at 16:40 hours, a Cessna 305C [privacy data omitted] landed on private propery. VFR flight conditions prevailed and the pilot did not…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.