# NTSB LAX02LA112: Maule M-7-260, N7ZF, Montague, CA, March 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 2002, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.766666, -122.466667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7667&lon=-122.4667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54374/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54374 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. ## 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 - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped during the landing roll. According to the pilot, the landing was a three point on runway 17, with no apparent adverse wind conditions or turbulence. The airplane rolled straight ahead for approximately 200 feet and then commenced an immediate uncommanded left turn, which the pilot said was not correctable with brake or rudder. The airplane ultimately ground looped to the left resulting in considerable damage to the airplane. The reported winds at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 2002, at 1320 Pacific standard time, a Maule M-7-260, N7ZF, ground looped during landing at Siskiyou County Airport, Montague, California. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91 and departed from Montague-Yreka Rohrer Airport at 1245. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 17. He said the approach was normal, in the slot, and stabilized with no drift correction. The landing was three point, on the runway numbers, with no apparent adverse wind conditions or turbulence. The airplane rolled out straight ahead for approximately 200 feet, then commenced an immediate uncommanded left turn, which was not correctable with brake or rudder, and a ground loop resulted. The pilot reported that he accident could have been prevented by deactivation of the parking brake system, which he suspects was the reason why the airplane swerved during the landing. According to the pilot, as he learned from a maintenance facility, the deactivation could be done by "two separate and distinct brake pedal checks during landing checklist run, to check for hard pedal or pedals." He also stated that the ground loop was not pilot induced, nor was it likely that it was caused by erratic winds or gusts. The reported winds at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7ZF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7ZF), registered now, S/N 26012C, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-260 - Registry model: [Maule M-7-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260) (registry code 5460111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26012c - Airframe hours: 85.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George A. Cordingly, Jr. - Registered owner: George A. Cordingly, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2002, 3.7 hours before - Departed: 1O5, Montague, CA - Destination: SIY, Montague, CA - Airport: SIY, Siskiyou, runway 17, 7,484 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 13,900 total, 86 in this make and model, 11,700 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SIY ## Other investigations on N7ZF (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR12CA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA215), May 6, 2012: Maule M-7-260 (N7ZF), Brigham City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a gusting crosswind. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54374. 489 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.