Cessna 305A accident near Toms River, New Jersey, June 8, 2010
On June 8, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5075K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Toms River, New Jersey (Robert Miller Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's loss of airplane control during landing, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Toms River, New Jersey · Robert Miller Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5075K · registry record · serial 21487
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), after touchdown a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel-equipped airplane toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the drift, he applied right rudder and right brake. The check pilot, seated in the rear, added engine power, which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane continued its turn, about 150 feet off of the runway surface, until the left main landing gear dug into the ground and sheared off. According to the check pilot, as the airplane crossed the end of the runway, about 5 knots above stall speed, the wind shifted, with gusts up to 30 knots. The airplane stalled and descended to the runway with a rapid sink rate. The check pilot advised the PIC to go around and instructed him to add engine power. The check pilot further stated that the PIC thought that he wanted the check pilot to take control of the airplane and raised his hands off the controls and said, "You got it!." By that time, the airplane was off the right side of the runway in the sand with neither pilot at the controls.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 341 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,530 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 26, 2009
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Advertising Agency LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 47N Manville NJ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MJX Toms River NJ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 06, 5,949 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from MJX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.