Cessna 305A accident near Jackson, California, April 10, 2000
On April 10, 2000 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N4583V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, California (Westover Field). 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
failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for a crosswind condition, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with a rock.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2000 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, California · Westover Field · 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
- N4583V · registry record · serial 24729
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the winds were 270 at 4 knots, and runway 19 was in use. He flared high and the airplane bounced, so he added power. As the airplane settled to the runway in a 3-point landing, the tail swung to the left. He tapped the left brake in an attempt to realign the airplane and the airplane suddenly veered left 30 degrees to the runway. The pilot applied right aileron, right rudder, and added power. He departed the runway about 20 degrees off the runway heading and collided with a boulder 30 feet from the runway edge.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2000
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O70 at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SAC, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.