# NTSB MIA05CA068: Cessna 305A, N54550, Bartow, FL, March 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2005, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Bartow, FL - Coordinates: 27.943332, -81.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9433&lon=-81.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61093/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA068 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain directional control resulting in the airplane ground-looping. A factor in the accident was the pilots lack of total experience in the airplane make and model. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated this was his first flight in this specific airplane and after a orientation flight, they returned to the Bartow Municipal Airport to land. Upon making a three point landing, the airplane seemed normal, but it then began to swerve to the left. The pilot corrected with rudder, but passed through the center line of the runway. The airplane then began to bounce traveling perpendicular to the centerline. The right main wheel separated from the spring shank and at this point it dug into the runway spinning aircraft to the right. The plane settled down on its belly, right wing low. The pilot-rated passenger stated that the preflight, takeoff, taxi, flight, and landing approach were all normal, until touchdown, when the airplane ground-looped. During the landing roll an uncontrolled turn to the left commenced, then it tightened up, damaging the landing gear and causing the wing tip to drag, followed by the propeller striking the runway. The aircraft came to rest after spinning 270-degrees, and stopped at the edge of the runway. The pilots stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 2005, about 1228 eastern standard time, a Cessna 305A, JV5, N212CF, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ground-looped during the landing roll at the Bartow Municipal Airport, Bartow, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and commercial-rated passenger did not receive any injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The local flight originated earlier that day, about 1150. The pilot stated this was his first flight in this specific airplane and after a orientation flight, they returned to the Bartow Municipal Airport to land. Upon making a three point landing, the airplane seemed normal, but it then began to swerve to the left. The pilot corrected with rudder, but passed through the center line of the runway. The airplane then began to bounce traveling perpendicular to the centerline. The right main wheel separated from the spring shank and at this point it dug into the runway spinning aircraft to the right. The plane settled down on its belly, right wing low. The airplane was secured before they exited it. The pilot-rated passenger stated that the preflight, takeoff, taxi, flight, and landing approach were all normal, until touchdown, when the airplane ground-looped. During the landing roll an uncontrolled turn to the left commenced, then it tightened up, damaging the landing gear and causing the wing tip to drag, followed by the propeller striking the runway. The aircraft came to rest after spinning 270-degrees, and stopped at the edge of the runway. The pilots stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. The FAA inspector that responded to the accident scene stated the owner of the airplane was to demonstrate the airplane by allowing the private-rated pilot to fly the airplane. Upon landing on runway 9R on all three wheels the private-rated pilot lost control and ground looped the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54550](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54550), registered now, S/N JV5, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A - Registry model: [Cessna-Vansant Interprises-Inc 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-vansant-interprises-inc-305a) (registry code 207408E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: JV5 - Airframe hours: 1448 - Engines: Continental O-470 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raley-Strang Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2005, 12 hours before - Departed: BOW, Bartow, FL - Destination: BOW, Bartow, FL - Airport: BOW, Bartow Municipal Airport, runway 09, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 10, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,702 total, 1 in this make and model, 2,702 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 5,242 total, 50 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 122 °F, dew point 118 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: BOW, 1 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 20050302002029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050302002029A), Mar 2, 2005: Cessna 305A, Bartow, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On Wednesday 2 March, 2005, the pilot [privacy data omitted] was operating a Cessna L-19 bird dog (Cessna 305A) on a sales demonstration flight. The… ## Other investigations on N54550 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA85LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA167), May 7, 1985: Cessna 305A (N54550), Winter Haven, FL, minor damage 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.