- Date
- April 11, 1995, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Eunice, LA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N563ABMaule MXT-7-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950411007209A
- Case key
- 19390
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance. A factor was the windshear condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was maneuvering the airplane in order to survey a downed powerline. Winds were from the northwest at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots according to the pilot. During the turning maneuver to the east southeast, the airplane began to lose altitude and as the turn continued, the right wing raised upward and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest with the left wing separated. The FAA inspector reported that a weather front moving through the area was accompanied by gusting winds.
Factual narrative
On April 11, 1995, at 0800 central daylight time, a Maule MXT-7-180, N563AB, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Eunice, Louisiana. The commercial pilot did not sustain injury; however, the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local powerline patrol flight.
During a personal interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that "he was attempting to circle a downed powerline." He further reported that "windshear forced the airplane down and the airplane was not able to climb."
The enclosed Pilot/Operator report states that the ceiling was 1,000 feet above the ground (AGL), winds were from the northwest at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. During the turning maneuver to the east southeast, the airplane began to loose altitude. As the pilot turned the airplane toward the north, the right wing was "suddenly blown upward" and the left wing struck the ground.
The FAA inspector examining the site reported the airplane came to rest in a rice field with the left wing separated from the airframe. He further stated that a weather front, moving through the area, with thunderstorms, rain, and gusting winds reduced the ceilings to 800 to 900 feet overcast and visibility to 7 miles at the time of the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N563AB
- Reported as
- Maule MXT-7-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14003C
- Airframe hours
- 682
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1F, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Beck, Albert T.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 25, 1995 · 47 hours before
- Departed
- 4R7 · LA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,001 total · 626 in this make and model · 936 as pilot in command · 246 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.