# Accident 20240825017409A: Cessna 305A, Sterling, MA, August 25, 2024 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 25, 2024, 15:15 local time - Place: Sterling, MA - Airport: Sterling - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.4263° N, 71.7940° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4263&lon=-71.7940&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5673B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5673B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 305A (registry code 2074002, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-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 MOTOR O-470 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 349 total, 13 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA358) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240825017409A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON 25 AUGUST 2024, AT 1915(Z) THE FAA RECEIVED NOTICE REGARDING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A CESSNA 305 LANDED ON RUNWAY AND DURING LANDING ROLL OUT GROUND LOOPED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP ON ITS SIDE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD, NO INJURIES, AND "AIRCRAFT DAMAGE EXTENT UNKNOWN". BECAUSE OF AN ERROR IN REPORTING, THIS FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE (IIC) WAS UNAWARE OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL 27 AUGUST. THIS IIC AND AN ADDITIONAL ASI (AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR) ARRIVED AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE AT STERLING AIRPORT (3B3) AT 10:30 LOCAL TIME ON 27 AUGUST TO MEET THE ONE OF THE PILOTS INVOLVED AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER. A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT AREA AND AIRCRAFT BY FAA PERSONNEL WAS CONDUCTED AT THIS TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TO THE IMMEDIATE NORTH OF THE NORTH TAXIWAY, IN THE GRASS STRIP BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND THE PARKING AREA. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND THE SECOND-IN COMMAND (SIC), THE AIRCRAFT HAD LANDED IN GRASS ADJACENT TO RUNWAY 34 ON THE WEST SIDE, COMPASS HEADING 340 AS IS NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR GLIDER OPERATIONS. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) STATED AFTER LANDING HE RELAXED THE LEFT RUDDER AS THE PLANE WAS CROSSING OVER THE TAXIWAY WHICH CAUSED THE PLANE TO BOUNCE SLIGHTLY AND START TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. CONTROL INPUTS WERE INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THE GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT. THE SIC STATEMENT CORROBORATES THIS, AND HE ALSO STATED HE WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO KEEP IT FROM A GROUND LOOP. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION, AND NEARING THE END OF THE GROUND LOOP THE LEFT MAIN SPRING GEAR BROKE, WITH THE LEFT WING, LEFT REAR HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND, AND THE PLANE CAME TO REST WITH THE AIRCRAFT NOSE FACING APPROXIMATELY 140 DEGREES. ACCORDING TO BOTH CREW STATEMENTS, THE ENGINE STOPPED ON ITS OWN WITH NO FIRE, SWITCHES AND FUEL WERE SHUT OFF, AND THE CREW EXITED THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, CURVED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION FROM CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, WITH SKIN DISTORTION AND APPARENT SPAR AND RIB DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT SPRING GEAR OVERALL SURFACE HAD SPORADIC CORROSION. PROBABLE METAL FATIGUE “BEACH MARKS” AND CRACKS EMANATING FROM AN UPPER SURFACE CORROSION PIT APPROXIMATELY 3/32" DEEP AT THE POINT OF THE LEFT-HAND SPRING GEAR BREAK WERE NOTED. THE LEFT-HAND SPRING GEAR FAILED AT THIS JUNCTURE WHEN LATERAL LOAD WAS INDUCED DURING SKID/CLOCKWISE GROUND LOOP. ## 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 ERA24LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA358), Aug 25, 2024: Cessna 305 (N5673B), Sterling, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent landing gear collapse. Contributing was the flight… ## Other reports on N5673B (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19731015032469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731015032469A), Oct 15, 1973: Cessna 180E (N5673B), Bozeman, MT, Destroyed. Struck telfon wires. Ldg due obscured mtn pass. 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.