Casualties unknown

1999-10-22: Cessna 305C (N3255H) — Morganton, NC

Morganton, NC, US

On October 22, 1999, a Cessna 305C (registration N3255H) was involved in an aviation accident near Morganton, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a tailwind which resulted in the loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landed on runway 3 believing it was runway 21. The aircraft touched down with 30 degrees of flaps, stall warning sounded, and after tailwheel contact the airplane ground looped and nosed over. Winds were from 330 degrees at 12 knots.

Landing on Unintended Runway

The pilot reported that he believed the wind conditions favored landing on runway 21 and that he was landing on that runway. However, the airplane actually touched down on runway 3. The wind at the airport was reported as 330 degrees at 12 knots.

Flap Setting and Rudder Input

During the landing, the pilot had the flaps set to 30 degrees. He applied right rudder to correct for wind drift. As the main landing gear contacted the runway pavement, the stall warning horn sounded.

Tailwheel Drift

After the tailwheel settled onto the runway surface, the tail of the airplane began to drift toward the right edge of the runway. The pilot made further attempts to gain directional control.

Ineffective Control Attempts

The pilot's subsequent attempts to regain directional control of the airplane were ineffective. The airplane then ground looped and nosed over.

Additional Details

The pilot's belief regarding the favorable runway for the wind conditions led him to expect runway 21, but the actual landing was on runway 3. The landing configuration included 30 degrees of flaps and right rudder input. The stall warning horn activated at touchdown. The tailwheel drift followed, leading to a ground loop and nose over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19903. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.