# NTSB FTW97LA306: Cessna 305A (L-19), N542EZ, Aspen, CO, August 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1997, 08:48 local (14:48 UTC) - Place: Aspen, CO - Coordinates: 39.190433, -106.819122 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1904&lon=-106.8191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20309/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA306 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain direction control of the aircraft during landing roll, which resulted in a ground swerve and subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear. A related factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - touch-and-go - initiated, pilot in command - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis During a touch-and-go landing roll, the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot said he applied left rudder, then the aircraft to veer to the left. He then applied right rudder and brake, which had little effect on directional control. Subsequently, the aircraft slide sideways, and the right main landing gear collapsed. Wind at the time was from 360 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot reported he had 1 hour of experience in the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1997, at 0848 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 305A (L-19), N542EZ, sustained substantial damage when one main landing gear collapsed during landing roll at Aspen, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he was on his fourth touch-and-go landing and following touch down, the aircraft veered to the right. He said that left rudder input veered the aircraft left and right rudder and brake had little effect on directional control. The aircraft slid sideways and the right main landing gear collapsed causing damage to the right wing, elevator, and propeller. Recorded wind at the Aspen Airport at the time of the accident was from 360 degrees magnetic at 4 knots. There were no recorded gusts. According to information supplied by the pilot on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he had 1 hour experience in this make and model aircraft. Examination of the aircraft by a mechanic, at the facility where the aircraft was taken for repairs, provided no evidence of a preaccident failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: N542EZ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A (L-19) (305A (L-19) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22169 - Airframe hours: 4740 - Engines: Continental O-470-11B 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pangaia Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1997, 183 hours before - Departed: ASE - Airport: ASE, Aspen, runway 15, 7,004 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 346 total, 1 in this make and model, 256 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ASE, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970809021529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970809021529A), Aug 9, 1997: Cessna 305A, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft was performing pattern work on runway, landing gear collapsed on landing. 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.