# NTSB LAX05LA194: Maule 7-235, N90KD, Truckee, CA, June 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2005, 17:00 local (Jun 5, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.319999, -120.139442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3200&lon=-120.1394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA194 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## 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 - gusts - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis During the landing rollout on runway 28, the airplane veered to the left and ground looped. As the airplane slowed down to taxi speed, it veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder, but the airplane continued to track toward the runway's edge. The pilot then applied the brake, and the right main landing gear folded. The airplane's right wing tip and propeller were damaged as a result of impacting the surface. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) issued for the airport 2 hours 15 minutes before the accident reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot said he believed the winds were from 220 degrees at 10 to 12 knots. The pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind during the landing rollout, which blew him to the side. A Federal Aviation Administration certificated airframe and power plant maintenance technician examined the airplane after the accident and found no discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2005, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Maule 7-235, N90KD, ground looped during the landing rollout at the Truckee-Tahoe airport (TRK), Truckee, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), Half Moon Bay, California, about 1450. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he landed on runway 28, and that the winds were approximately 220 degrees at 10 to 12 knots. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The airplane did a 180-degree left turn before coming to a stop. In a written statement, the pilot reported that they departed Half Moon Bay for a scenic flight. He decided to make an approach into the South Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL), South Lake Tahoe, California, but was uncomfortable with the conditions. He then elected to consider landing at Truckee. He listened to the automated surface observation system (ASOS) and talked to a pilot of a Mooney airplane that was ahead of him on the approach. The pilot watched the Mooney land successfully and decided to continue on the approach for runway 28. The approach and landing were satisfactory. However, as the airplane slowed down to taxi speed, it veered to the left. He applied full right rudder, but the airplane continued to track toward the runway's edge. The pilot then applied the brake, and the right main landing gear folded. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's right wing tip and propeller struck the surface. In his statement, the pilot reported that his wife heard and felt a snap under her seat as the airplane veered to the left. In a telephone conversation, a mechanic reported that he examined the airplane following the accident. He stated that, in his opinion, there was nothing mechanically wrong with the right main landing gear that would have caused it to fail. He believes that the gear failed due to a tremendous side load place on it. In a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he spoke to the pilot following the accident. He stated that the pilot told him that a gust of wind blew him to the side. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) issued for Truckee at 1445 reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N90KD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Maule 7-235 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4094C - Airframe hours: 459 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-WIA5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick Kelly - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 14 hours before - Departed: HAF, HALF MOON BAY, CA - Destination: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 28, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 19,850 total, 19 in this make and model, 5,047 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTRK ## 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 20050604010679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050604010679A), Jun 4, 2005: Maule M7235, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) At the time of the accident, the wind was 220 @ 11, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 28. On rollout a gust of wind caught the aircraft.… 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.