# NTSB LAX02LA219: Maule M-5-235C, N9139E, Show Low, AZ, July 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2002, 19:30 local (Jul 8, 2002, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Show Low, AZ - Coordinates: 34.25, -110.009445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2500&lon=-110.0094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55155/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55155 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA219 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions 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 - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9139E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5-235C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7108C - Airframe hours: 2072.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-540J 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Randall Koons - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2002 - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SOW, Show Low Regional Airport, runway 21, 3,937 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 11, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 2,971 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SOW ## 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 20020707015179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020707015179A), Jul 7, 2002: Maule M5235C, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 7, 2002, at 1920 mountain standard time, a Maule M-5-235C, N9139E, was substantially damaged during a loss of directional control while landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55155. 364 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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. --- 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.