# NTSB ERA16CA024: Maule M5, N406X, Warrentown, VA, October 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 24, 2015, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Warrentown, VA - Coordinates: 38, -77 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0000&lon=-77.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92229/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92229 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a cattle-guard fence on landing. Contributing to the accident was his lack of recent flying experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that this was his first flight in over a year due to cataract surgery. He planned to do a few touch and go landings to regain currency before departing on a local flight. The pilot said that upon his first attempt to land, he failed to maintain clearance of a cattle-guard fence that was located at the end of the grass runway. The airplane's main landing gear snagged the cattle-guard causing the nose of the airplane to dive into the ground. The airplane then nosed over inverted and came to rest upside down, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall, both sets of wing struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The pilot said there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and the accident was due to his lack of recent experience and ability to judge the airplane's height above the cattle-guard. ## Factual narrative The private pilot stated that this was his first flight in over a year due to cataract surgery. He planned to do a few touch and go landings to regain currency before departing on a local flight. The pilot said that upon his first attempt to land, he failed to maintain clearance of a cattle-guard fence that was located at the end of the grass runway. The airplane's main landing gear snagged the cattle-guard causing the nose of the airplane to dive into the ground. The airplane then nosed over inverted and came to rest upside down, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall, both sets of wing struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The pilot said there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and the accident was due to his lack of recent experience and ability to judge the airplane's height above the cattle-guard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N406X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N406X-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 7039C, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M5 (235C) - Registry model: [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (registry code 5460135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7039C - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Lycoming 0-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richards Thomas J - Registered owner: Richards Thomas J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 7VGO, Warrentown, VA - Destination: 7VGO, Warrentown, VA - Airport: 7VGO, Warrenton Air park, runway 4, 2,215 × 70 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 720 total, 150 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: HWY, 5 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 20151024020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151024020819A), Oct 24, 2015: Maule M-5-235C, Warrenton, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting a currency landing for practice before departing his home airport. This was the pic's first flight in the previous 12 months. While… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92229. 1.1 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (email) (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(email)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 912 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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.