# NTSB ERA24LA025: Cessna 305, N19YM, Williamston, NC, October 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 28, 2023, 17:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Williamston, NC - Coordinates: 35.862193, -77.178201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8622&lon=-77.1782&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - 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): 193329 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193329/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193329 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA025 ## Probable cause Loss of directional control to avoid a deer during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a culvert. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2074001), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [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 305, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2074001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2074001), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 305, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2074001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis Just prior to touch down, the pilot saw a deer to his left. As the airplane settled, he corrected to the right to avoid the deer but over-corrected and could not straighten the airplane’s path. He added full power to attempt a go-around maneuver; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19YM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19YM-2024-02-16), registration cancelled 2024-02-16, S/N 22827, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 305](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305) (registry code 2074001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22827 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 6400 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470-11 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2023, 15 hours before - Departed: SOP, Southern Pines, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MCZ, Martin County, runway 03, 5,000 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 10,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: PVG, 66 nm away - METAR: METAR KPVG 282155Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP301 PWINO PNO FZRANO RVRNO= ## 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 20231028016209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231028016209A), Oct 28, 2023: Cessna 305, Williamston, NC, Destroyed. On 10/28/2023, a Cessna L-19 lost control during touchdown on runway 03 at the Martin County Airport (kmcz) with 2 people on board. The winds were reported to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193329. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16349527&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA025%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16349382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bill%20Plaster-pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16348175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA025%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.