- Date
- September 23, 2015, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Show Low, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5207GCessna 305A
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Scottsdale FSDO (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20150923020529A
- Case key
- 92038
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's failure to maintain directional control during landing in quartering tailwind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a right main landing gear collapse.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he used a "standard crosswind technique" during the final approach, but just before touchdown the nose of the airplane shifted 25 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. After touchdown, the pilot attempted to correct with the rudder and ailerons, but the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway surface. During the runway excursion the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the terrain. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. METEROLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot reported that there was a crosswind during the final approach, and the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind during the touchdown. About the time of the accident at the airport, an automated weather observing system reported the wind at 020 degrees true at 5 knots, which resulted in a quartering tailwind.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he used a "standard crosswind technique" during the final approach, but just before touchdown the nose of the airplane shifted 25 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. After touchdown, the pilot attempted to correct with the rudder and ailerons, but the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway surface. During the runway excursion the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the terrain. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. METEROLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot reported that there was a crosswind during the final approach, and the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind during the touchdown. About the time of the accident at the airport, an automated weather observing system reported the wind at 020 degrees true at 5 knots, which resulted in a quartering tailwind.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5207G
- Reported as
- Cessna 305A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21645
- Built
- 1951
- Airframe hours
- 10,653.8
- Engine
- Continental O-470-11B, 213 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2015
- Departed
- GYR · Goodyear, AZ
- Destination
- SOW · Show Low, AZ
- Airport
- SOW · Show Low Rgnl, runway 24, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 26, 2015
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 9,100 total · 570 in this make and model · 8,500 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 25, 2014
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 532 total · 1 in this make and model · 381 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- KSOW
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.