# NTSB CEN20CA289: Cessna 305, N86WM, Glenwood Springs, CO, July 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 17, 2020, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Glenwood Springs, CO - Coordinates: 39.506111, -107.309165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5061&lon=-107.3092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101621/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101621 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA289 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing resulting in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was on a cross-country flight with a passenger. On approach, he followed an airplane established on a left downwind for the runway. The pilot extended the airplane's downwind to allow space for the landing airplane to clear the runway. The pilot elected to use the paved runway instead of the 800-ft grass landing area adjacent to the paved runway because of the clearing airplane. He subsequently lost directional control during the landing and the airplane exited the paved surface. A "juggle" of the pilot's feet on the rudder pedals occurred during the excursion, which resulted in "over braking" and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial fuselage and empennage damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions during the flight and his safety recommendation was, "Never underestimate a tailwheel airplane!" ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86WM), registered now, S/N 2017, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna Ector 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-ector-305a) (registry code 2073902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2017 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 6248 - Engines: Continental PPA-O-470-50 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2020 - Departed: ASE, Aspen, CO - Destination: GWS, Glenwood Springs, CO - Airport: GWS, Glenwood Springs Muni, runway 32, 3,305 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,857 total, 750 in this make and model, 6,782 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.40 inHg - Observed at: KEGE, 20 nm away ## 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 20200717009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200717009159A), Jul 17, 2020: Cessna Ector 305A, Glenwood Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Flight in calm, cool air that ended in a loss of directional control upon landing and a groundloop in a tailwheel airplane, which was overturned in the… ## Other investigations on N86WM (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 NYC99LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA229), Sep 18, 1999: Cessna 305A (N86WM), Warehouse Point, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the clearance between the airplane and the banner loop during banner pickup. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101621. 939 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 717 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9997511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N86WM-accident-report%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10023319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20photo289-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot's statement to FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10025868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20Communication%20Summary289Greenway-Rel.pdf 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.