# NTSB GAA17CA005: Cessna Ector 305, N305MR, Concord, NH, October 3, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 3, 2016, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Concord, NH
- Coordinates: 43.201667, -71.50389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2017&lon=-71.5039&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94147/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94147
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA005

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

## 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 Ector 305A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073902), [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 Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that shortly after touchdown, he "lost directional control" to the right, attempted to correct with left rudder and brake inputs, but was unsuccessful. The airplane continued to veer off the runway to the right, ground looped, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that shortly after touchdown, he "lost directional control" to the right, attempted to correct with left rudder and brake inputs, but was unsuccessful. The airplane continued to veer off the runway to the right, ground looped, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N305MR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305MR), registered now, S/N 2011, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA ECTOR 305 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna Ector 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-ector-305a) (registry code 2073902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2011
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 1756
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-15 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2016
- Departed: LCI, LACONIA, NH
- Destination: CON, Concord, NH
- Airport: CON, Concord Muni, runway 35, 6,005 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2016; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,695 total, 5 in this make and model, 4,450 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 8.5 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KCON

## 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 20161003019829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161003019829A), Oct 3, 2016: Cessna Ector 305A, Concord, NH, Substantial damage. Shortly after making a normal touchdown on runway 35 the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft and began turning toward the right side of the runway.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94147. 875 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 653 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

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