# NTSB ATL00LA001: Cessna 305C, N3255H, Morganton, NC, October 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 22, 1999, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Morganton, NC - Coordinates: 35.740345, -81.68946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7403&lon=-81.6895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47639/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a tailwind which resulted in the loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot believed the winds favored runway 21, and believed he was landing on runway 21, when in fact, he landed on runway 3. According to the pilot, he landed with 30 degrees of flaps while applying right rudder to correct for wind drift. The stall warning horn sounded as the main gear touched down. As the tailwheel settled, the tail of the airplane started drifting to the right edge of the runway. His further attempts to gain directional control of the airplane were ineffective. The airplane then ground looped and nosed over. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 330 degrees at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 1999, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 305C, N3255H, nosed over on landing at Morganton Airport in Morganton, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Lincolnton, North Carolina, at 1730. According to the FAA, the wind condition at Morganton Airport at the time of the accident was reported as 10 knots gusting to 15 knots from a direction of 300 degrees to 320 degrees. Of the two runways available, runway 21 and runway 3, the pilot decided on runway 21 because he believed the winds were favoring that runway. The pilot believed he was landing on runway 21, when in fact, he landed on runway 3. According to the pilot, he landed with 30 degrees of flaps while applying right rudder to correct for wind drift. The stall warning horn sounded as the main gear touched down. As the tailwheel settled, the tail of the airplane started drifting to the right edge of the runway. He applied additional right rudder to straighten the airplane, but it had no effect. At this time, he realized he did not have enough rudder control to arrest the drift of the airplane. He applied additional power in an attempt to regain rudder effectiveness. The airplane straightened briefly but he decided to abort the landing and applied full power to go around. At that time, he lost directional control of the airplane and ground looped the airplane. The left wing struck the ground to the left of the runway. The airplane nosed over, slid, and came to rest on its back. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured. Examination of the wreckage revealed structural damage to the left wingtip, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right wing strut. Additionally, the top surfaces of both wings were wrinkled. The engine and propeller assemblies were damaged and the engine was partially torn from the engine mounts. The engine was further damaged by fire that was contained to the engine compartment. No mechanical deficiencies with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3255H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24544 - Airframe hours: 7094 - Engines: Continental O-470-15 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Allan E. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: IPJ, LINCOLNTON, NC - Destination: 0A9, ELIZABETHTON, TN - Airport: MRN, Morganton-Lenoir, runway 3, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,423 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,340 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991022046499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991022046499A), Oct 22, 1999: Morganton, NC, No damage. (-23)The pilot was attempting to land at an unfamiliar airport. The morgan ASOS was continually reporting winds at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots at 300… 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. --- 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.