# NTSB CHI03LA110: Maule M-5-210C, N9014A, Ironwood, MI, April 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2003, 14:08 local (19:08 UTC) - Place: Ironwood, MI - Coordinates: 46.5275, -90.131385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5275&lon=-90.1314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56885/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop on landing. A contributing factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during landing, veered off the runway, and impacted a ditch about 100 yards south of the runway. The pilot stated that in an attempt to recover from the ground loop, he applied full power when he was approaching the edge of the runway but did not have enough airspeed to takeoff. He stated that there was a tail wheel shimmy when he touched down. Inspection of the airplane's tailwheel and flight control system revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2003, at 1408 central daylight time, a Maule M-5-210C, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage after it ground looped and impacted terrain during landing on runway 27 (6,000 feet by 100 feet, dry grooved asphalt) at Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD), Ironwood, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed from Kings Land O' Lakes Airport (LNL), Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, at 1320, en route to IWD. The pilot stated that the tail wheel "shimmied" when he made a three point landing on touchdown. He pushed in on the yoke to lift the tail wheel and then pulled on the yoke. He stated that he was not sure if the left turn began at that time. He then applied full power when he saw the edge of the runway approaching and stated that he did not have enough airspeed to regain lift prior to crossing into the grassy area next to the runway. The airplane then impacted a drainage ditch about 100 feet south of the runway. Inspection of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no anomalies with the airplane's tailwheel and flight control system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9014A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9014A-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 6107C, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5-210C - Registry model: [Maule M-5-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (registry code 5460134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6107C - Airframe hours: 3596 - Engines: Continental IO-360-D33B 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ray A. Richter - Registered owner: Ray A Richter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2002, 7.2 hours before - Departed: LNL, Land O Lakes, WI - Destination: IWD, Ironwood, MI - Airport: IWD, Gogebic - Iron County Airport, runway 27, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 2, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 643 total, 52 in this make and model, 562 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: IWD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030423005339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030423005339A), Apr 23, 2003: Maule M5210C, Ironwood, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft touched down fast on runway 27, made sharp turn to left, departed left side of runway sideways, slid across grass and struck a ditch. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.