# NTSB GAA18CA584: Cessna 305, N119PP, Groveland, CA, September 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2018, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.861667, -120.178611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8617&lon=-120.1786&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 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA584 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA584 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent 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 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) - [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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/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) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after a three-point landing, the left wing "raised up abruptly," so he corrected with left aileron, but the airplane veered left. He then corrected with right pedal, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable. An automated weather observation station located about 15 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 27. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, after a three-point landing, the left wing "raised up abruptly" so he corrected with left aileron, but the airplane veered left. He then corrected with right pedal, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and tailcone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable. The automated weather observation station located on the airport about 15 NM away, reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 27. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N119PP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N119PP), registered now, S/N 22787 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22787 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 5296.9 - Engines: Continental O-470-15 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2018 - Departed: O22, Columbia, CA - Destination: E45, Groveland, CA - Airport: E45, Pine Mountain Lake, runway 27, 3,624 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 355 total, 71 in this make and model, 203 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KO22, 15 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 20180905016189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180905016189A), Sep 5, 2018: Cessna 305A, Groveland, CA, Substantial damage. On September 5, 2018 at approximately 11:30AM, at Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45) a Cessna 305A after touch down on runway 27. Left wing lifted up and caused… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98692. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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. --- 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.