| Crash location | 27.943333°N, 81.783333°W |
| Nearest city | Bartow, FL
27.896415°N, 81.843137°W 4.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N54550 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 02 Mar 2005 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 305A |
| Additional details: | None |
On March 2, 2005, about 1228 eastern standard time, a Cessna 305A, JV5, N212CF, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ground-looped during the landing roll at the Bartow Municipal Airport, Bartow, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and commercial-rated passenger did not receive any injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The local flight originated earlier that day, about 1150.
The pilot stated this was his first flight in this specific airplane and after a orientation flight, they returned to the Bartow Municipal Airport to land. Upon making a three point landing, the airplane seemed normal, but it then began to swerve to the left. The pilot corrected with rudder, but passed through the center line of the runway. The airplane then began to bounce traveling perpendicular to the centerline. The right main wheel separated from the spring shank and at this point it dug into the runway spinning aircraft to the right. The plane settled down on its belly, right wing low. The airplane was secured before they exited it.
The pilot-rated passenger stated that the preflight, takeoff, taxi, flight, and landing approach were all normal, until touchdown, when the airplane ground-looped. During the landing roll an uncontrolled turn to the left commenced, then it tightened up, damaging the landing gear and causing the wing tip to drag, followed by the propeller striking the runway. The aircraft came to rest after spinning 270-degrees, and stopped at the edge of the runway.
The pilots stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
The FAA inspector that responded to the accident scene stated the owner of the airplane was to demonstrate the airplane by allowing the private-rated pilot to fly the airplane. Upon landing on runway 9R on all three wheels the private-rated pilot lost control and ground looped the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
The pilots failure to maintain directional control resulting in the airplane ground-looping. A factor in the accident was the pilots lack of total experience in the airplane make and model.