- Date
- June 26, 1997, 19:45 local (Jun 27, 1997, 01:45 UTC)
- Place
- Watkins, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5225GCessna 305A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970627016039A
- Case key
- 20256
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane at an altitude insufficient for a safe recovery. A factor was the tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot took off into a 20 to 25 mph headwind, turned downwind, snagged a banner he intended to tow, applied full power, and leveled the airplane. The pilot said the airplane began to vibrate and lose power and continued until ground impact. Witnesses said the airplane stalled. The pilot later told his insurance adjuster that the vibration was 'a classic initiation of a stall.'
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1997, approximately 1945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5225G, registered to Banner Advertising, Inc., was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering at Aurora, Colorado. The commercial rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating.
According to airport personnel, the pilot took off from the Aurora Airpark (01V) on runway 14 into a 20 to 25 mph headwind. He then turned downwind, snagged a banner he intended to tow, applied full power, and leveled the airplane. According to the pilot's report, "the aircraft began to vibrate wildly and lose power. The vibration and lack of power continued until the airplane impacted the ground at a 30 degree angle."
According to witnesses, however, the airplane stalled and impacted a field adjacent to the airpark. The pilot later told his insurance adjuster that the vibration was "a classic initiation of a stall."
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the airplane was being used in commercial operations, but had not received regular 100-hour inspections.
The wing spar was broken, the firewall was buckled, and the ailerons and right main landing gear were twisted and bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5225G
- Reported as
- Cessna 305A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21898
- Airframe hours
- 8,034
- Engine
- Continental O-470-11, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Banner Advertising, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 7, 1996 · 228 hours before
- Departed
- 01V
- Airport
- 01V · Aurora Airpark
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 2,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BKF, 5 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.