ATL05CA150

NTSB accident investigation · Maule M4-210C · OCRACOKE iSLAND, NC · August 20, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 20, 2005, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC)
Place
OCRACOKE iSLAND, NC
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N40624Maule M4-210C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
GSO FSDO-5
FAA report
20050820019989A
Case key
62294

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds and his failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with trees. A factor was the crosswind condition.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot was attempting to make a crosswind land on runway 06 at Ocracoke Island Airport. The airplane touchdown on the right main landing gear first, veered off the left side of the runway and collided with small trees. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right main landing gear, propeller, and fuselage. No weather reporting facility is located on the field. Winds were estimated at 25 to 30 knots out of the west. Post-accident examination of the flight control surfaces revealed no mechanical failures. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane during flight.

Factual narrative

On August 20, 2005 at 1945 eastern daylight time, a Maule M4-210C, N40624, registered to and operated by a private owner, veered off the runway surface during landing roll and collided with trees at Ocracoke Island Airport, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. The flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Wadeboro, North Carolina on August 20, 2005 at 1200.

The pilot entered the traffic pattern for a series of touch and goes on runway 06 . During the approach to land, the pilot noticed a crosswind from the west and continued the approach. The airplane touched down on the right main landing gear first, veered to the left side of the runway and went 40 feet off of the runway, and collided with small trees.

Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right main landing gear, propeller, and fuselage. No weather reporting facility is located on the field. Winds were estimated at 25 to 30 knots out of the west. Post-accident examination of the flight control surfaces revealed no mechanical failures. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane during flight.

Aircraft

Registration
N40624
Reported as
Maule M4-210C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2145C
Engine
Continental IO-360-D, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James H. Bingman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
AFP · Wadeboro, NC
Destination
W95 · Ocracoke Island, NC
Airport
W95 · Ocracoke Island, runway 6, 2,999 × 60 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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Seat
Left
Flight hours
230 total · 170 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
100° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 77 °F
Altimeter
29.97 inHg
Observed at
HSE, 18 nm away

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 N40624 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.