# NTSB WPR20CA296: Cessna Ector 305A, N1832, Amboy, CA, September 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2020, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Amboy, CA - Coordinates: 34.559722, -115.746948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5597&lon=-115.7469&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101929/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101929 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA296 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a precautionary landing which resulted in a 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 Ector 305A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073902), [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 Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073902), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he was making a precautionary landing to an old gravel and sand runway. During the landing roll, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he was making a precautionary landing to an old gravel and sand runway. During the landing roll, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1832](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1832-2025-02-22), registration cancelled 2025-02-22, S/N 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna Ector 305A - Registry model: [Cessna Ector 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-ector-305a) (registry code 2073902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2004 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 9805.91 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2019 - Departed: SZP, Santa Paula, CA - Destination: HII, Lake Havasu, AZ - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review August 30, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 670.7 total, 103.9 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 108 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KNXP, 26 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 20200903015489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200903015489A), Sep 3, 2020: Cessna Ector 305A, Amboy, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot experienced an engine "stumble" when moving the fuel selector. The engine continued to operate normally afterwards. As a precaution, the pilot decided to… ## Other investigations on N1832 (2) 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 GAA18CA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA209), Apr 9, 2018: Cessna Ector 305A (N1832), South Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB LAX93LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA018), Oct 24, 1992: Cessna 305A (N1832), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP SWERVE. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101929. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11365519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11366519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array_Redacted-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.