Cessna 305 accident near Williamston, North Carolina, October 28, 2023
On October 28, 2023 at about 9:25 pm local time, a 1952 Cessna 305, registered N19YM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Williamston, North Carolina (Martin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of directional control to avoid a deer during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a culvert.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2023 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Williamston, North Carolina · Martin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305 A, built 1952 · all 305s on the register
- Registration
- N19YM · no longer on the register · serial 22827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just prior to touch down, the pilot saw a deer to his left. As the airplane settled, he corrected to the right to avoid the deer but over-corrected and could not straighten the airplane’s path. He added full power to attempt a go-around maneuver; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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)
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2023; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-11 (piston); 6,400 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP Southern Pines NC at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from PVG, 66 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVG 282155Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP301 PWINO PNO FZRANO RVRNO=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.