# NTSB ERA23LA088: Cessna 305, N5301G, Alabaster, AL, December 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 10, 2022, 15:30, time zone not recorded - Place: Alabaster, AL - Coordinates: 33.177777, -86.783222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1778&lon=-86.7832&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - 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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA088 ## Probable cause Failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism, which resulted in a loss of control during landing and a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074002), [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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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: 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) - [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) ## Analysis The pilot of the vintage tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made a three-point landing on the runway centerline, aligned with the runway, in light wind. Upon touchdown, the airplane swerved left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder and brake application; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot examined the tailwheel after the accident and noted that its locking mechanism had failed. Specifically, he believed that the spindle or brass thrust ring had failed internally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5301G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5301G), registered now, S/N 22808, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (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: 22808 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 8000 - Engines: Continental O-470 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2022, 4 hours before - Departed: AL60, Ashville, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EET, Shelby County Airport, runway 16, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: EET - METAR: METAR KEET 102153Z AUTO 22003KT 10SM SCT035 BKN075 20/15 A3012 ## 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 20221210018619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221210018619A), Dec 10, 2022: Cessna 305A, Alabaster, AL, Substantial damage. Upon landing on runway 16 at the Shelby County Airport (eet), the tail wheel mechanism failed causing the pilot to lose control as the aircraft swerved to the… ## Other investigations on N5301G (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 ATL90FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90FA144), Jul 15, 1990: Cessna 305A (N5301G), Fruitdale, AL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT BY ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WHILE IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106460. 768 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14902292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14902719&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.