DEN00LA051

The pilot said that on his descent to the airport, the wind became 'light to moderate out of the south.' The midfield wind sock was 'straight out, indicating a left quartering wind to runway 24.' The final approach was 'rough,' and he decided to make a go-around. He noticed the wind sock at the end of the runway was 'hanging, bent in the middle.' The pilot said that on the second approach, he was able to maintain runway heading without introducing a crab angle. When he flared the airplane for landing, it ballooned 8 to 10 feet up into the air. He applied some power. As the airplane settled back to the ground, the left wing and nose came up and the pilot applied full power. Seeing trees and a beacon tower he would be unable to avoid, the pilot reduced power to idle. The airplane struck the ground and nosed over.

On February 12, 2000, approximately 1030 mountain standard time, a Maule M-6-235, N56507, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over on landing at Reserve, New Mexico. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Springerville, Arizona, approximately 1 hour before the accident.

According to the pilot's accident report, there was no wind when he departed Reserve. Later, light to moderate turbulence was encountered. The pilot landed at Springerville, Arizona, to refuel. A southeast wind at 8 mph and some turbulence was noted during the landing approach. When the pilot departed Springerville, the wind was generally light but there was "some gusty winds to 20 mph." Light to moderate turbulence and moderate gusts were encountered on the return trip.

The pilot said that on his descent into Reserve, the wind became "light to moderate out of the south." The midfield wind sock was "straight out, indicating a left quartering wind to runway 24." The final approach was "rough," and he decided to make a go-around. He noticed the wind sock at the end of the runway was "hanging, bent in the middle." The pilot said that on the second approach, he was able to maintain runway heading without introducing a crab angle. When he flared the airplane for landing, it ballooned 8 to 10 feet up into the air. He applied some power. As the airplane settled back to the ground, the left wing and nose came up and the pilot applied full power. Seeing trees and a beacon tower he would be unable to avoid, the pilot reduced power to idle. The airplane struck the ground and nosed over.