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GAA15CA100

2015-05-27 · Richfield, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RIF

Current FAA registration · N16708

Make / Model
CESSNA ECTOR 305A
Year of manufacture
1967 · 48 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19710310
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A10E28

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that while landing, the airspeed was too high and the airplane bounced after making contact with the runway. The airplane came down on the runway 20 degrees right of runway heading and the pilot corrected by applying the left brake. The right main landing gear wheel separated from the gear leg and the airplane veered left into a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that while landing, the airspeed was too high and the airplane bounced after making contact with the runway. The airplane came down on the runway 20 degrees right of runway heading and the pilot corrected by applying the left brake. The right main landing gear wheel separated from the gear leg and the airplane veered left into a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA100.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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