Cessna 305A accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1985
On June 2, 1985 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5288G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden airport). It was a personal 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 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
- June 2, 1985 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden · 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
- N5288G · registry record · serial 21515
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED DURING A LANDING ROLL ON A SOD RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, IT FELT AS IF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A KNOLL OF GRASS RESULTING IN THE ACFT GROUND LOOPING TO THE RIGHT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 55,563 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,371 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Middletown DE at 12:20 pm
- Destination: Toughkenamon PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 226° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.