Cessna Ector 305A accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii, November 7, 2013
On November 7, 2013 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna Ector 305A, registered N65070, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mokuleia, Hawaii (Dillingham Airfield). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A landing gear brake malfunction during the landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2013 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mokuleia, Hawaii · Dillingham Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna Ector 305A A, built 1979 · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N65070 · registry record · serial 2035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing after a glider tow operation, the airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, both wings, and lift struts. A postaccident examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the right brake was locked up and that the tire would not rotate normally. During a followup examination, the right brake was disassembled, and no anomalies were found. After reassembly, the brake operated normally.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 20,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 13, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Honolulu Soaring Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Mokuleia HI
- Destination: HDH Mokuleia HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 9,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 151°F (66°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:58 pm from PHHI, 11 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N65070 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.