DEN01LA043

During landing roll at the completion of a cross country flight, the pilot lost directional control and the tail wheel configured aircraft exited the side of the runway. Wind at the time of the accident was a 5 knot cross wind. The aircraft had 28 hours total time and the pilot had 24 hours in the aircraft. His previous recent flight experience was in airline transport category aircraft.

On January 19, 2001, at 1335 mountain standard time, a Maule M-7-235C, N246SV, sustained substantial damage to the left wing when it departed the side of the runway during landing roll at Animas Airpark, Durango, Colorado. The airline transport pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal cross country-flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Telluride, Colorado, at approximately 1305.

According to the pilot, he lost directional control during landing roll and the tail wheel configured aircraft ground looped and departed the side of the runway. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 080 degrees at 5 knots and the runway being used was 01 which is 5, 010 feet in length and 50 feet in width. The runway surface was asphalt and was reported as being dry.

During the excursion from the runway, the right main landing gear separated from the aircraft and the left wing strut struck runway lights which resulted in the left wing being unsupported.

According to information from the Federal Aviation Administration and the pilot, this was a new aircraft with a total time of 28.5 hours when the accident occurred. The pilot had 24.2 hours in the aircraft with 13.5 hours pilot in command flight experience in this make and model. His previous recent flight experience was in airline transport category aircraft.