# NTSB ERA14CA003: Cessna 305A, N305CR, Slatington Airport, PA, October 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2013, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Slatington Airport, PA - Coordinates: 40.764167, -75.604721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7642&lon=-75.6047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88236/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88236 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind condition and the airfield's inaccurate windsock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Airport personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was on a stabilized approach to runway 1. During the landing flare the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he applied left rudder to compensate for the drift. Upon touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane flipped upside down with the tail lifting up first. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The FAA inspector also noted that the airfield wind sock had not been properly maintained and was not accurate. Wheel brake continuity was verified by the FAA inspector during postcrash inspection. The reported wind at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 10 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site, was from 200 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane was on a stabilized approach to runway 01. During the landing flare the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he applied left rudder to compensate for the drift. Upon touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane flipped upside down with the tail lifting up first. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The FAA inspector also noted that the airfield wind sock had not been properly maintained and was not accurate. Wheel brake continuity was verified by the FAA inspector during postcrash inspection. The reported wind at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 10 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site, was from 200 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N305CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305CR), registered now, S/N 21483, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21483 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 8292 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Three Point Aviation - Registered owner: Three Point Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2013, 19 hours before - Departed: 71N, SUNBURY, PA - Destination: 69N, Slatington Airport, PA - Airport: 69N, Slatington Airport, runway 01, 2,455 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 19,000 total, 13.5 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 10 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 20131017021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131017021949A), Oct 17, 2013: Cessna 305A, Slatington, PA, Substantial damage. Normal approach, normal touchdown on centerline. Plane drifted right, immediately went upside down on runway. Plane came to stop, pilot released himself from… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88236. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 436 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement from the FAA. (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20the%20FAA.-Master.PDF - Airport Managers Statement. (item 3, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Managers%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane at rest. (Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20at%20rest.%20(Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.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.