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WPR23LA229

2023-06-17 · Big Bear City, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport L35

Current FAA registration · N62TX

Make / Model
CESSNA 305C (0-1E)
Year of manufacture
1963 · 60 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20050414
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A815A3

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.

Factual narrative

On June 17, 2023, at 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 305C, N62TX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Big Bear Airport (L35), Big Bear, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff from Big Bear Airport (L35), Big Bear, California, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and ground looped. During the ground loop, the airplane’s right wing impacted the terrain, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel head bracket flanges had fracture separated. The bracket was removed and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for examination. Examination of the fracture faces revealed the presence of dimpled ruptures, consistent with overstress fractures in cast aluminum. The wind at the airport about the time of the accident was reported to be calm. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff, the airplane yawed left, exited the runway, and ground looped. During the ground loop, the airplane’s right wing impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel head bracket was broken in two places. Metallurgical examination of the fractured tailwheel head bracket revealed that the bracket flanges had separated due to overstress, likely because of the pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff and subsequent ground loop. The wind at the airport about the time of the accident was reported to be calm. 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA229.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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