# NTSB FTW03LA001: Maule M-7-235C, N4269B, San Antonio, TX, October 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2002, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.573055, -98.463058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5731&lon=-98.4631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing winds conditions. A contributing factor was the prevailing tailwind. ## 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 - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - wall/barricade ## Analysis The 266-hour private pilot attempted to land on runway 30 with the winds from 160 degrees at 14 knots. He stated that while retracting the flaps on the rollout " a right cross wind gust lifted my right wing," which lifted his right main gear off the ground. The pilot initiated corrective action to level the wings and applied additional right rudder to realign to the runway. The pilot was unable to recover from the downwind landing and the airplane collided with a 3-foot wall following the loss of control. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2002, approximately 1745 central daylight time, a Maule M-7-235C single-engine tailwheel equipped airplane, N4269B, was destroyed when the airplane impacted a wall during landing at the Twin Oaks Airport (T94), near San Antonio, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Twin Oaks Airport, at 1715. The 266-hour pilot reported on the Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he arrived at the airfield at approximately 1700 hours and observed the local weather and winds for approximately 10 minutes. He stated that the winds appeared mild and variable from approximately 120 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot added "I did not observe any gusts throughout the observation period." The pilot initiated a takeoff from runway 12, surveyed the conditions and proceeded to enter the traffic pattern to land on runway 30. The pilot stated, "I conducted one pass over the runway to test the conditions and ascertained the wind conditions were mild, no turbulence." During the landing on runway 30, the pilot reported touch-down at 62 mph with the tail wheel touching momentarily before the mains. "There was a very small bounce and the mains settled to the ground." While on roll out, with flaps retracted, the pilot stated, "A right crosswind gust lifted my right wing. The lifting was rapid and intense, lifting the gear off the ground, with the tail still grounded." The pilot initiated corrective action to level the wings and applied additional right rudder to realign to the runway. The pilot was unable to recover. The airplane veered left, exited the runway, crossed a drainage ditch, and impacted a three-foot wall. The impact ruptured the engine oil pan and initiated an engine fire, which consumed the airplane. Runway 30 was reported to be a 2,078-foot by 30-foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot was reported to have accumulated a total of 33 hours in the same type and model of aircraft. The weather at San Antonio International Airport (SAT), located approximately 2 nautical miles south (175 degrees) from T94, at 1803, reported few clouds at 4,100 feet, wind from 160 degrees at 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 23, and barometric pressure of 29.89 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4269B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4269B), registered now, S/N 25047C, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235C - Registry model: [Maule MT-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mt-7-235) (registry code 5460175) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-w1a5d) (registry code 41658, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25047C - Airframe hours: 28.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory L. Vrentas - Registered owner: Hydro International LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2002, 28.1 hours before - Departed: T94, San Antonio, TX - Airport: T94, Twin-Oaks, runway 30, 2,085 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 266 total, 33 in this make and model, 215 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 2 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 20021001025919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021001025919A), Oct 1, 2002: Maule M7235C, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was doing touch and go landings, when a gust of wind caused him to lose control of the aircraft. He departed the left side of runway 30 at which… 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.