ERA16CA241

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 305 · Shirley, NY · July 3, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 3, 2016, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
Place
Shirley, NY
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N12633Cessna 305
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20160703013589A
Case key
93533

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to accept an advised runway rather than determine actual airport winds, which resulted in the airplane landing with a quartering tailwind.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna Ector 305A: 5 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna Ector 305A: 6 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna Ector 305A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 594 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot of the tailwheel- equipped airplane, the airport UNICOM operator advised the active runway as 33, and he did not listen to the automated weather broadcast. The pilot performed a two-point (main wheel) landing to the asphalt runway, and the airplane initially tracked straight, slightly right of centerline. As it decelerated, the tailwheel touched down, and the airplane began to turn left. The pilot applied right rudder with no effect. He then applied the right brake, but the airplane kept turning to the left. It then slid sideways, and the right main landing gear folded, damaging the outboard section of the right wing as it contacted the runway. When the pilot disembarked, he noted that he had landed with a quartering tailwind. Wind, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, was from 190° at 7 knots, and runway 24 was available. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In retrospect, he noted that he landed on an advised runway instead of determining actual winds to land on the most appropriate runway.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane, the airport Universal Communications (UNICOM) operator advised the active runway as 33, and he did not listen to the automated weather broadcast. The pilot performed a two-point (main wheel) landing to the asphalt runway, and the airplane initially tracked straight, slightly right of centerline. As it decelerated, the tailwheel touched down and the airplane began to turn left. The pilot applied right rudder, with no effect. He then applied the right brake, but the airplane kept turning to the left. It then slid sideways, and the right main landing gear folded, damaging the outboard section of the right wing as it contacted the runway. When the pilot disembarked, he noted that he had landed with a quartering tailwind. Wind, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, was from 190° true at 7 knots, and runway 24 was available. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In retrospect, he noted that he landed on an advised runway instead of determining actual winds to land on the most appropriate runway.

Aircraft

Registration
N12633
Reported as
Cessna 305 (A)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2015
Built
1966
Airframe hours
3,921
Engine
Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 213 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Banner tow · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 28, 2015
Departed
HWV · Shirley, NY
Destination
HWV · Shirley, NY
Airport
HWV · Brookhaven Airport, runway 33, 4,222 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic flight bag or handheld device

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 7, 2015
Seat
Single
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
1,685 total · 34 in this make and model · 1,613 as pilot in command · 109 in the last 90 days · 53 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.10 inHg
Observed at
HVW

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 604 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N12633 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.