# NTSB ERA10CA304: Cessna 305A, N5075K, Toms River, NJ, June 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 8, 2010, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Toms River, NJ - Coordinates: 39.927223, -74.292221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9272&lon=-74.2922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA304 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's loss of airplane control during landing, which resulted in a ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), after touchdown a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel-equipped airplane toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the drift, he applied right rudder and right brake. The check pilot, seated in the rear, added engine power, which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane continued its turn, about 150 feet off of the runway surface, until the left main landing gear dug into the ground and sheared off. According to the check pilot, as the airplane crossed the end of the runway, about 5 knots above stall speed, the wind shifted, with gusts up to 30 knots. The airplane stalled and descended to the runway with a rapid sink rate. The check pilot advised the PIC to go around and instructed him to add engine power. The check pilot further stated that the PIC thought that he wanted the check pilot to take control of the airplane and raised his hands off the controls and said, "You got it!." By that time, the airplane was off the right side of the runway in the sand with neither pilot at the controls. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), after touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel-equipped airplane towards the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the drift, he applied right rudder and right brake. The check pilot, seated in the rear, added power which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane continued its turn, about 150 feet off of the runway surface, until the left main landing gear dug into the ground and sheared off. According to the check pilot, as the airplane crossed the end of the runway, on heading and about 5 knots above a stall, the wind shifted to the airplane's port quarter, with gusts up to 30 knots. The airplane stalled, and "dropped to the runway with a rapid sink rate." The check pilot attempted to advise the PIC to go around "by adding power, but he thought I wanted control of the plane and threw up his hands and said, 'You got it!'" By that time, the airplane was off the right side of the runway, "in the sand and no one in control." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5075K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5075K), registered now, S/N 21487 (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: 21487 - Engines: Continental O-470-11 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aerial Advertising Agency LLC - Registered owner: Aerial Advertising Agency LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 47N, Manville, NJ - Destination: MJX, Toms River, NJ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MJX, Robert Miller Air Park, runway 06, 5,949 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 21, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 341 total, 2 in this make and model, 292 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review April 26, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,530 total, 2,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MJX ## 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 20100608005999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100608005999A), Jun 8, 2010: Cessna 305A, Berkley Townshi, NJ, Substantial damage. At touchdown on runway 6 at mjx, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift towards the left side of the runway. The pilot added right rudder and small amount… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76261. 250 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-chk pilot Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-chk%20pilot%20Statement.-Redacted.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.