# NTSB GAA16CA142: Maule M5, N12BE, Wasilla, AK, March 1, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2016, 11:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Coordinates: 61.571666, -149.539993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5717&lon=-149.5400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92792
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92792/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92792
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA142

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, and an impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Maule M-5-235C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5460135), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: 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)

## Analysis

The student pilot and his flight instructor conducted 6 takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The student pilot then took off solo, flew in the traffic pattern, and during the landing he reported that as soon as my wheels hit the pavement it jerked hard to the right. The student pilot attempted to "straighten it out" but he reported that the airplane was going too fast so he applied power and attempted to take off. He then stated that the airplane "jumped me to the right of the runway," the airplane departed the runway to the right, the propeller impacted terrain, and the main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the two right wing lift struts. The student pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the student pilot stated "more practice" and "land on gravel."

## Factual narrative

The student pilot and his flight instructor conducted 6 takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The student pilot then took off solo, flew in the traffic pattern, and during the landing he reported that as soon as the wheels hit the pavement it jerked hard to the right. The student pilot attempted to "straighten it out" but he reported that the airplane was going too fast so he applied power and attempted to take off. He then stated that the airplane "jumped me to the right of the runway," the airplane departed the runway to the right, the propeller impacted terrain, and the main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the two right wing lift struts. The student pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the student pilot stated "more practice" and "land on gravel."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12BE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12BE), registered now, S/N 7082C (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: 7082C
- Year built: 1977
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IYS, Wasilla, AK
- Destination: IYS, Wasilla, AK
- Airport: IYS, Wasilla, runway 04, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22.2 total, 22.2 in this make and model, 0.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: PAWS

## 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 20160301002139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160301002139A), Mar 1, 2016: Maule M-5-235C, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. The morning of the accident the airman had flown with his flight instructor. The flight consisted of at least five landings, two on gravel and three on…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92792. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photograph (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photograph-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.

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