# NTSB DEN04LA029: Maule M-4-210, N4621T, Elbert, CO, December 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2003, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Elbert, CO - Coordinates: 39.162498, -104.534721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1625&lon=-104.5347&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: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 58478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58478/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA029 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A contributing factor was his inexperience in aircraft type. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed ## Analysis The pilot said he had received an endorsement to fly conventional (tail wheel, fixed landing gear) landing gear airplanes earlier in the week. He and his wife were returning to their home airport after refueling the airplane at another nearby airport. He made a three-point landing to the south. As the airplane was rolling out on the dirt runway, it veered left onto a plowed field and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2003, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a Maule M-4-210, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it ground looped and nosed over during landing at the Flying Lazy D airstrip, located 2 miles south of Elbert, Colorado. 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 Calhan, Colorado, approximately 0930. In a telephone interview, the pilot said he had received an endorsement to fly conventional (tail wheel, fixed landing gear) airplanes earlier in the week. He and his wife had flown to Calhan, Colorado, that morning to refuel the airplane, and were returning to the Flying Lazy D when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, he made a three-point landing on runway 17. As the airplane was rolling out on the dirt runway, it veered left onto a plowed field and nosed over. The right wing lift strut was buckled, the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing tip were crushed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4621T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4621T), registered now, S/N 1033, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-4-210 - Registry model: [Maule M-4-210](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-210) (registry code 5460108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1033 - Airframe hours: 1987 - Engines: Continental IO-360-A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dwight E. Olkjer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2003, 28 hours before - Departed: 5V4, Calhan, CO - Destination: CO48, Elbert, CO - Airport: CO49, Flying Lazy D Ranch, runway 17, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 10, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 36 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: AFF, 23 nm away ## 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 20031213033759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031213033759A), Dec 13, 2003: Maule M4210, Elbert, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 13, 2003 approximately 1000 MST, a Maule M-4, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it veered off the… ## Other investigations on N4621T (4) 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 SEA69D0232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69D0232), May 3, 1969: Maule M4-210 (N4621T), Dubois, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA68D0246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0246), Jan 20, 1968: Maule M-4 (N4621T), Idaho Falls, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN67F0202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67F0202), Jan 29, 1967: Maule M4-210 (N4621T), Ogden, UT, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK67F0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK67F0053), Jul 4, 1966: Maule M-4 (N4621T), Black Springs, NV, substantial damage 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.