No fatalities

10 Nov 2008: CESSNA 305A — El Cajon, CA

El Cajon, CA, United States

On 10 Nov 2008, a CESSNA 305A was involved in an aviation accident near El Cajon, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported encountering turbulence and a subsequent ground loop during landing on runway 27R, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft's right wing and elevator.

Incident Overview

The pilot of an airplane reported that after being cleared to land on runway 27R, the landing proceeded under calm wind conditions. At approximately 1,600 feet above ground level, the aircraft encountered turbulence. During the landing flare, the airplane ballooned upward, though the pilot managed to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway.

Sequence of Events

Upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation but was unable to prevent the airplane from ground looping before stopping. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator.

Post-Landing Observations

After exiting the airplane, the pilot observed that the wind had shifted and was coming from 045 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot expressed the opinion that the quartering tailwind had resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.

Mechanical Condition

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Response/compensation