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CEN21LA448

2021-09-18 · Topeka, Kansas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TOP

Current FAA registration · N140R

Make / Model
CESSNA 305A
Year of manufacture
1951 · 70 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19720214
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0A427

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The loss of control and ground loop due to the mechanical malfunction of the tailwheel lock.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he conducted several takeoff and landings before the accident that day, at a different airport, all without incident. During the accident landing, the airplane touched down, veered left, and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway, the tail veered to the left, and the airplane “rocked” left. The left wing and left elevator impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest upright on the main landing gear and the pilot was able to taxi the airplane to parking without further incident. A witness reported seeing the tailwheel rotating after takeoff. An examination revealed that the tailwheel locking mechanism did not function. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_CEN21LA448.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (loss of control). All research papers