Cessna 305A accident near El Cajon, California, November 10, 2008
On November 10, 2008 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5263G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Field 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2008 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Field Airport · 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
- N5263G · registry record · serial 22346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had been cleared to land on runway 27R, and the winds were reported as calm. The pilot stated that during the landing flare the airplane ballooned up, but he was able to keep the airplane pointed down the runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation, but the airplane ground looped before he could stop it. The damage to the airplane consisted of substantial damage to the right wing, and right elevator. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot observed that the winds were from 045 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot opined that the quartering tail wind resulted in his loss of control. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 470 in this make and model; 1,550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,006 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2008; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSV Las Vegas NV at 5:05 pm
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27R, 5,342 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from SEE
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.