Cessna 305A accident near Midlothian, Texas, August 29, 2015
On August 29, 2015 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 305A, registered N5255G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Midlothian, Texas (Mid-Way Rgnl airport). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the brake line tubing for the right main landing gear brake, due to a non-standard method used to secure the brake line, which resulted in a loss of control during landing, and a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2015 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · Mid-Way Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A A, built 1951 · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5255G · registry record · serial 22655
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after a simulated rope break maneuver while towing a glider, he maneuvered to the runway and landed "normal". The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane "yawed" to the left; he applied right rudder inputs to correct the yaw, but it was ineffective. The pilot reported that he "quickly applied right brake", but "felt no brake pressure in the pedal". He "pressed the brake pedal 4-5 times as the aircraft continued to yaw", subsequently the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the fuselage. The pilot reported that when he applied the right brake he "heard the pedal click against something behind it, creating a metallic sound." A post-accident examination of the right brake system components revealed, that the brake disc was within limits, and brake pads were within limits. The aluminum hydraulic brake line tube which is lead along the aft edge of the gear leg from the brake caliper toward the master cylinder was broken about halfway down the gear leg, under the retaining bracket. The retaining bracket was canted and the brake line and rubber padding had been secured with a zip tie. There were no signs of impact damage at the break. In a statement from the airplane's type certificate holder to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) dated October 14, the holder reported that at the point where the zip tie had been installed, the brake line was supposed to be held in place by a green bracket, with the small section of rubber tube protecting the line from direct contact with the other metal parts. The green bracket should be positioned perpendicular to the aft contour line of the gear leg. It is likely that the canted bracket and zip tie created a pinch point on the flexing gear leg and resulted in the failure of the brake line.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Modification/alteration › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 1,415 as pilot in command; 740 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,101 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JWY Midlothian TX at 6:15 pm
- Destination: JWY Midlothian TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KJWY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.