# NTSB SEA06CA183: Cessna 305A, N5074H, Lewistown, MT, September 13, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 13, 2006, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lewistown, MT
- Coordinates: 47.049446, -109.466667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0494&lon=-109.4667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65050
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65050/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA183

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent swerve and nose down.  A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the wind was from 280 to 320 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots.  Upon touchdown, the left wing was raised by a gust.  The airplane swerved right and then left before coming to rest nose down on the runway.

## Factual narrative

On September 13, 2006, about 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5074H, nosed down during the landing roll on runway 30 at Lewistown Municipal Airport, Lewistown, Montana.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The airplane, which was registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  The flight originated from Bozeman, Montana about 1400.

According to the pilot, the wind was from 280 to 320 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 22 knots.  Upon touchdown, the left wing was raised by a gust.  The airplane swerved right and then left before coming to rest nose down on the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5074H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5074H), registered now, S/N 21091, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 305A
- 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: 21091
- Airframe hours: 9087
- Engines: Continental O-470-11B 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stewart E. Creston
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2006, 50 hours before
- Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT
- Destination: LWT, Lewiston, MT
- Airport: LWT, Lewiston Municipal, runway 30, 4,102 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 2,806 total, 396 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: LWT

## 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 20060913020099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060913020099A), Sep 13, 2006: Cessna 305A, Lewistown, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft owner was trying to land aircraft when a gust of wind caught his left wing. As the left wing rose upward, the right wing hit the ground, the…

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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