Cessna 305A accident near Los Alamitos, California, November 24, 1984
On November 24, 1984 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5197G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Alamitos, California (Los Alamitos airport). It was a public-use 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1984 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Los Alamitos, California · Los Alamitos · 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
- N5197G · registry record · serial 21783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLL. PLT STATED HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A GLIDER TOW MISSION AND THAT ON TOUCHDOWN THE TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY EXCESSIVELY. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AND SETTLED BACK ON THE RWY, AT WHICH TIME THE TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY BECAME WORSE AND THE ACFT CONTINUED ON THE RWY FOR ABOUT 20 FT BEFORE NOSING OVER. THE ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH A CASTORING AXLE ASS'Y. EXAMINATION OF THE ASS'Y REVEALED IT WAS SERVICED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 733 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 622 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,211 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1984; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLI at 5:39 pm
- Runway 22L, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:11 pm from SLI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.