IAD00LA030

During a stop and go landing, the airplane ground looped, veered off to the right, and struck a parked airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies. Winds at the time were from 070 degrees at 10, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported a total time of 170 hours; 78 hours in tail wheel airplanes, and 9 hours in make and model. He also reported that he had ground-looped the airplane 8 months prior to this accident.

On March 31, 2000, at 0806 Eastern Standard Time, a Maule M-4-220C, N2060U, was substantially damaged during landing on Runway 01 at Lincoln Park Airport (N07), Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR 91.

In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated:

"I took off at 0730 to practice stop and go landings. I had completed three landings and was executing the fourth landing when the accident occurred. On the fourth landing, I got caught in a cross wind and ground looped on the runway. I remembered landing on the asphalt runway when the airplane turned to the right. The airplane then departed the runway, and crossed the grass strip and taxiway on one wheel before colliding with the parked Cessna. I did not have control of the airplane and may have been caught in ground effect, which inhibited me from fully controlling the airplane."

According to the Lincoln Park Police Department report, the Maule was observed on its nose with another airplane (Cessna 172) underneath it. The pilot told the police that he experienced a crosswind while attempting to land. The airplane touched down on the runway, then veered off the runway while still in the air striking the parked airplane.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors performed an on-site examination. According to the FAA inspectors, they found marks on the runway that correlated with the Maule's left wing tip and tail wheel. Both marks were found left of the runway centerline, and curved to the right (east) and stopped at the edge of the 40 foot wide runway. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, crossed a grass strip and taxiway and collided with the parked Cessna. The grass strip and taxiway were absent of ground scars. The FAA inspectors found no mechanical discrepancies with the Maule.

The pilot purchased the airplane in April 1999. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated he had ground-looped the airplane during a flight in August 1999, which resulted in minor damage.

Examination of FAA records revealed no previous accidents involving N2060U. However, according to FAA records, a form 337 for Major Repair and Alteration was filed on August 3, 1999. The work performed was described as removal of the right wing tip, outboard upper and lower wing skins and outboard trailing edge half rib due to damage in a ground loop.

The winds reported at Morristown Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey, 10 miles to the southwest, at 0745, were 360 degrees at 8 knots. According to the Lincoln Park Airport Manager, the wind sock at the time of the accident indicated winds at 300 degrees at 10 knots, with possible gusts to 15 knots.

Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed he had a total of 170 flight hours, with 78 hours in tail wheel aircraft; 9 hours in make and model.