Cessna 305A accident near Chuluota, Florida, January 27, 1988
On January 27, 1988 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5290G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chuluota, Florida (Flying Seminole Ranch airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 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
- January 27, 1988 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chuluota, Florida · Flying Seminole Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5290G · no longer on the register · serial 21225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP WAS OPERATED LONGER THAN NORMAL DURING POWER OFF GLIDE FOR BANNER PICKUP. AFTER BANNER PICKUP WHEN FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED FOR CLIMB THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE NOSE WAS LOWERED IN PREPARATION FOR A LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD. ALTITUDE DID NOT PERMIT ENOUGH TIME TO FLARE AND CHECK RATE OF DESCENT PRIOR TO A HARD TOUCHDOWN IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,823 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4,687 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1987; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,000 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:49 pm from SFB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.