# NTSB GAA17CA460: Cessna 305, N72BD, Eagle Lake, TX, July 29, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2017, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Eagle Lake, TX - Coordinates: 29.600555, -96.321945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6006&lon=-96.3219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - NTSB case key (mKey): 95732 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA460 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95732/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95732 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA460 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in variable wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 305A, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2074002), [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 305A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was in the rear seat during the personal flight, and the airplane owner was in the front seat. The pilot made an approach to runway 17. He reported that, just before the landing gear touched down, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right. The airplane's nose turned to the right, and the airplane touched down on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane owner then took control of the airplane, which subsequently struck a runway light and then ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and the upper left side of the fuselage just aft of the cabin. The pilot reported that the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The nearest METAR located 25 miles northeast of the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 6 knots and variable between 230° and 290°. The skies were clear with 9 statute miles of visibility. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had carried more airspeed during the landing to combat the wind conditions. ## Factual narrative The pilot in command of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was in the rear seat during the personal flight. The owner of the airplane was in the front seat of the airplane. The pilot in command made an approach to runway 17. He reported that just before the landing gear touched down, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right. The nose of the airplane turned to the right and the airplane touched down on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The owner of the airplane came on the controls and the airplane struck a runway light, then ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and the upper left side of the fuselage just aft of the cabin. The pilot reported that the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The nearest METAR, 25 miles northeast of the airport, reported that about the time of the accident the wind was from 260° at 6 knots and variable between 230° and 290°. The skies were clear with 9 statute miles of visibility. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had carried more airspeed during the landing to combat the wind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72BD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72BD), registered now, S/N 21655 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21655 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 1491.8 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG 213 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 2016 - Departed: TS27, COLUMBUS, TX - Destination: ELA, Eagle Lake, TX - Airport: ELA, Eagle Lake, runway 17, 3,801 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,135 total, 140 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 8, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,696 total, 171 in this make and model, 4,696 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTME, 25 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 20170729012679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170729012679A), Jul 29, 2017: Cessna 305A, Eagle Lake, TX, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, on July 29, 2017, he was in the back seat of aircraft registration number N72BD when he and the aircraft owner (which is also pilot)… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95732. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5740544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5741318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.