# NTSB DEN04LA022: Maule M-7-235C, N246SV, Truth or Conseq, NM, November 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2003, 17:45 local (Nov 5, 2003, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Truth or Conseq, NM - Coordinates: 33.236667, -106.271667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2367&lon=-106.2717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque, New Mexico - NTSB case key (mKey): 58354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58354/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA022 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate flare and his failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted landing - discontinued, pilot in command - terrain condition - ground - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The pilot stated that prior to the night landing, he received weather reports from the automated surface observation system (ASOS) that reported winds from 280 degrees and 250 degrees at 5 knots. He set up for a landing on runway 31 and used full flaps (40 degrees). The pilot said he held the airplane in a slight left crab to compensate for the crosswind. The pilot stated that he leveled off "a little high" and "lost [sight of] the runway" during the landing flare. As the airplane landed, it swerved to the left side of the runway. He added power for a go-around and was briefly airborne but he said he became disoriented because of the "dark mountain ahead." When he aborted the attempted go-around, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and ground-looped. The ground-loop buckled the left wing, collapsed the left main landing gear, and separated the tail wheel. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2003, at 1745 mountain standard time, a Maule M-7-235C, N246SV, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it ground-looped during landing roll at Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS), Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Telluride, Colorado, at 1530. The pilot stated that prior to the night landing, he received weather reports from the automated surface observation system (ASOS) that reported winds from 280 degrees and 250 degrees at 5 knots. He set up for a landing on runway 31 and used full flaps (40 degrees). The pilot said he held the airplane in a slight left crab to compensate for the crosswind. The pilot stated that he leveled off "a little high" and "lost [sight of] the runway" during the landing flare. As the airplane landed, it swerved to the left side of the runway. He stated that he added power for a go-around and was briefly airborne, but he said he became disoriented because of the "dark mountain ahead." When he aborted the attempted go-around, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and ground-looped. The ground-loop buckled the left wing, collapsed the left main landing gear, and separated the tail wheel. At 1753, the reported weather conditions at Truth or Consequences was: wind, 240 degrees at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 61 degrees F.; dew point, 12 degrees F.; altimeter setting, 29.93. According to the Sun and Moon data, the Moon was in waxing gibbous with 84 percent of the Moon's visible disk illuminated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N246SV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N246SV), registered now, S/N 25068C, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235c) (registry code 5460110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2297 - Airframe hours: 119.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clinton C .Viebrock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2003, 33 hours before - Departed: TEX, Telluride, CO - Destination: TCS, Truth or Conseq, NM - Airport: TCS, Truth or Consequences Municipa, runway 31, 5,599 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 18, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 21,471 total, 98 in this make and model, 15,324 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KTCS ## 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 20031104033519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031104033519A), Nov 4, 2003: Maule M7235C, Truth Or Conseq, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 4, 2003, at 1750 mt, a Maule M-7-235C, N246SV, operated by Mr. Clinton c. viebrock, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during… ## Other investigations on N246SV (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN01LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA043), Jan 19, 2001: Maule M-7-235C (N246SV), Durango, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure by the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in aircraft make and model. 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.