# NTSB DEN88LA052: Cessna 305A, N5245G, Littleton, CO, January 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1988, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Littleton, CO
- Location: 39.7718° N, 105.1448° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SCL LUTHERAN WEST (CO98), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7718&lon=-105.1448&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17437/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA052

## 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
  - terrain condition - snow covered (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5245G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5245G-2000-06-06), registration cancelled 2000-06-06, S/N 21327 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A
- Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21327
- Airframe hours: 5000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-11-B 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Finch, Jerry J.
- Registered owner: Jerry J Finch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1987, 10 hours before
- Departed: BJC, DENVER, CO
- Destination: CO98, LITTLETON, CO
- Airport: CO98, Bowen Farm 1, runway 9, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,858 total, 2,700 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F

## 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 19880110000509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880110000509A), Jan 10, 1988: Cessna 305A, Littleton, CO, Substantial damage. Poorly snow plowed landing strip. Pilot allowed aircraft to hit a snow ridge. Aircraft then cartwheeled.

## Other investigations on N5245G (3)

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 DEN00LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA024), Dec 3, 1999: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Akron, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the four bolts which attach the right main landing gear assembly to the landing gear strut.
- [NTSB NYC98LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA181), Sep 5, 1998: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper inflight decision, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall.
- [NTSB FTW96LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA172), Apr 17, 1996: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: entanglement of the tow banner during banner pickup, and subsequent failure or inability to jettison the banner. A factor relating to the accident was: high gusty wind condition.

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.

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