LAX02LA219

The airplane veered off the runway and nosed over while attempting to land in a crosswind. During an overflight of the runway, the pilot observed that the winds were from about 130 degrees at less than 15 knots and he elected to land on runway 21. The pilot stated the approach to runway 21 was normal, despite the crosswind conditions that he encountered. During the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the right side of the runway, and he attempted to execute a go-around by adding full power. The airplane became momentarily airborne, and the right main landing gear collided with a rising embankment located on the right side of the runway. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. An FAA inspector examined the skid marks and ground scars that resulted from the accident. He said that it appeared the airplane had initially landed solely on the right main landing gear, with the nose pointing to the right, off the runway. He thought that the airplane had continued off the right side of the runway after landing in this configuration. The tail wheel had incurred too much damage for him to determine if any mechanical malfunctions had occurred prior to the accident.

On July 7, 2002, about 1930 mountain standard time, a Maule M-5-235C, N9139E, veered off the runway and nosed over while attempting to land at the Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), Show Low, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal cross-country flight departed Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona, about 1700, with a planned destination of SOW.

In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot reported to him that he was attempting to land in SOW as he had successfully done many times prior. While approaching the vicinity of the airport, he called UNICOM to request weather information. An attendant did not answer, so he opted to make a low approach over the airport in an effort to determine wind conditions from the windsock. He decided to land on runway 21, and estimated the winds were blowing less than 15 knots from about 130 degrees.

The pilot stated the approach to runway 21 was normal, despite the crosswind conditions that he encountered. During the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the right side of the runway, and he attempted to execute a go-around by adding full power. The airplane became momentarily airborne, and the right main landing gear collided with a rising embankment located on the right side of the runway. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot thought the veer to the right could have been due to a failure of the tail wheel.

The FAA inspector examined the skid marks and ground scars that resulted from the accident. He said that it appeared the airplane had initially landed solely on the right main landing gear, with the nose pointing to the right, off the runway. He thought that the airplane had continued off the right side of the runway after landing in this configuration. The tail wheel had incurred too much damage for him to determine if any mechanical malfunctions had occurred prior to the accident.