- Date
- August 30, 2012, 18:00 local (Aug 31, 2012, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Juneau, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N378XMaule M-5-210C
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-05
- FAA report
- 20120830018519A
- Case key
- 84903
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during landing, resulting in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot receiving instruction had recently returned to flying after a long absence, and he hired a flight instructor to assist him in becoming familiar and proficient with a recently purchased tailwheel-equipped airplane. Although not proficient, the pilot did possess a current tailwheel endorsement. During landing, the pilot said he overcorrected, and the airplane ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left aileron. The instructor said that he had been asked to substitute for the pilot's primary instructor and that he overestimated the pilot's ability and did not take control of the airplane. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot-rated student had recently returned to flying after a long absence, and he hired a flight instructor to assist him in becoming familiar/proficient with a recently purchased tailwheel-equipped airplane. Although not proficient, the pilot did possess a current tailwheel endorsement. During landing, the pilot said he over corrected, and the airplane ground-looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left aileron. The instructor involved in the accident, said he had been asked to sit in during the absence of the pilot's primary instructor, and he overestimated the pilot's ability and did not take control of the airplane. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N378X
- Reported as
- Maule M-5-210C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6178C
- Airframe hours
- 1,434
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO-360 SER, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael Whisenant
- Registered owner
- Michael Whisenant
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 2012
- Departed
- PAJN · Juneau, AK
- Destination
- PAJN · Juneau, AK
- Airport
- PAJN · Juneau International, runway 26, 8,457 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 98 total · 16 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 14, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 6,000 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N378X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.