- Date
- May 9, 1994, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Salina, KS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N12016Maule M-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 7, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940509010359A
- Case key
- 9524
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. Factors related to the accident were: the crosswind, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of aircraft.
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.
Analysis
During flight, the alternator failed, and the pilot diverted to Salina, KS, for a precautionary landing. Subsequently, he landed on runway 35 with a wind from 050 degrees at 15 knots (17.25 mph). The demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane was 20 mph. Shortly after touchdown, directional control was lost, and the plane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main gear collapsed from overload failure. The controlled airport had 2 other runways (4/22 & 12/30). The pilot had only 7 hours in this make and model of aircraft.
Factual narrative
On May 9, 1994, at 1020 central daylight time, a Maule ML-4, N12016, owned and operated by Thomas Broughall of Chubbuck, Idaho, ground looped during a precautionary landing at Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight returning the airplane to Idaho after purchase.
The pilot was cleared to land on runway 35 at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN) after reporting a partial loss of electrical power. The pilot reported receiving Atis Alpha with winds of 360 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 0951 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 1040 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 15 knots. (15 knots = 17.25 mph) The pilot stated that during the landing, right aileron and left rudder were required to maintain the runway heading and that during rollout directional control was lost. The airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway. The demonstrated crosswind component for the M-4, according to a representative from Maule Air, Incorporated, is 20 miles per hour.
Post accident metallurgical analysis of the fractured landing gear attachments revealed no evidence of pre-existing damage or fatigue.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12016
- Reported as
- Maule M-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26
- Airframe hours
- 2,043
- Engine
- Continental O-300-A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas Broughall
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1994 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- MKC · Kansas City, MO
- Destination
- HYS · Hays, KS
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SLN · Salina Municipal, runway 35, 13,337 × 200 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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 7 in this make and model · 103 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SLN
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 N12016 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.