# NTSB ERA23LA374: Cessna 305, N5269G, Cortland, NY, September 14, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 14, 2023, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Cortland, NY - Coordinates: 42.592642, -76.214883 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5926&lon=-76.2149&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: 1 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): 193083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA374 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a noseover. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of familiarity with the airplane. ## 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) - [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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; 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) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The multi-segment cross-country flight was the pilot’s first time flying the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Arriving at the destination airport, the pilot noted quartering gusts when he cleared a tree line to land on the asphalt runway. Following touchdown, the airplane pulled to the right and he applied left brake to correct; however, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the brakes revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at the nearest weather reporting facility, about 13 miles southwest of the accident airport, was a quartering right crosswind at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5269G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5269G), registered now, S/N 21471, built 1951 (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: 21471 - Year built: 1951 - Engines: Continental O-470 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2023 - Departed: RUT, Rutland, VT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N03, Cortland County-Chase Fld, runway 24, 3,401 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,050 total, 5.8 in this make and model, 4,846 as pilot in command, 360 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: ITH, 13 nm away - METAR: KITH 141856Z 29012G19KT 10SM BKN040 16/08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP216 T01610083 ## 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 20230914015789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230914015789A), Sep 14, 2023: Cessna 305A, Cortland, NY, Substantial damage. A pilot was entrusted with the task of flying a friend's aircraft from oxford county regional airport in Maine, where it had recently been purchased, to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193083. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16222288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16222330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16221896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA374%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - FAA brake memorandum for record (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16221135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA374%20MOR%20FAA%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16224170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA374%20Photo%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.