# NTSB GAA20CA046: Cessna L19, N5073Y, New Braunfels, TX, October 17, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2019, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Coordinates: 29.705833, -98.043334 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7058&lon=-98.0433&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100488/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100488
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA046

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, the main landing gear touched down, followed by the tailwheel, and the airplane veered left. He corrected with right rudder, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the main landing gear touched down followed by the tailwheel, and the airplane veered left. He corrected with right rudder, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway to the left, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5073Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5073Y), registered now, S/N 21714 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna L19 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21714
- Airframe hours: 969.8
- Engines: Continental O-470-11B reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2019
- Departed: ARM, Wharton, TX
- Destination: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BAZ, New Braunfels Rgnl, runway 13, 6,503 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,784 total, 3,066 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KBAZ

## 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 20191017020149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017020149A), Oct 17, 2019: Cessna 305A, New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed wharton regional airport, direct flight to New Braunfels Regional Airport. On approach, pilot aligned to center of runway 13. Main landing…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100488. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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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