On July 17, 1993, a Cessna 305A (registration N5214G) operated by Bickford/petmecky was involved in an aviation accident near Belen, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a wheels landing, which resulted in a ground loop and nose-over after encountering a left quartering tailwind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot executed a wheels landing on runway 03, touching down well past the threshold. A left quartering tailwind caused the aircraft to veer left despite corrective inputs, resulting in a ground loop and nose-over.
What happened
The pilot attempted a standard landing on runway 03 without deploying the landing gear. The aircraft touched down approximately 1,100 feet beyond the beginning of the paved surface. After traveling roughly 700 feet along the runway, the airplane encountered a wind condition described as a left quartering tailwind.
This wind component caused the aircraft to drift toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake in an effort to maintain directional control. These corrective actions proved ineffective against the wind forces. The right wingtip struck the ground, which initiated a ground loop maneuver. The sequence concluded with the aircraft noseing over.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's decision to perform a wheels landing and the subsequent loss of directional control due to wind conditions. The ineffective use of braking and rudder inputs during the veer contributed to the severity of the damage.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a wheels landing, which resulted in a ground loop and nose-over after encountering a left quartering tailwind.