# NTSB MIA02LA056: Maule M-7-235B, N235AL, Sarasota, FL, January 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2002, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL - Coordinates: 27.395277, -82.553886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3953&lon=-82.5539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 9, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54105/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54105 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA056 ## Probable cause The poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot-in-command for his failure to request the runway most aligned with the wind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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 - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he flew the airplane and three passengers down to Key West, Florida, the day before; one of the passengers was the owner of the airplane, but is not a pilot. The flight departed to return and when southeast of the airport, the pilot cancelled the instrument clearance. He reported that the wind was from 200 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, and landings were being conducted on runways 14 and 22. The flight was vectored for a landing on runway 14, and landed first on the right main landing gear and tailwheel due to the crosswind from the right. During the landing roll with full right aileron and left rudder input applied, the airplane ground looped to the right. The pilot further reported that he did not ask to land on runway 22 and that the wind was turbulent due to "trees and a newly constructed noise barrier on the upwind side of that runway." He further stated that the situation could have been prevented if he had insisted on landing on runway 22 which was the favored runway based on the wind direction, and there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2002, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Maule M-7-235B, N235AL, registered to and operated by Cedar Key Seaplane Service Corporation, experienced a loss of control during the landing roll at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1300 hours from the Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida. The pilot stated that he flew the airplane and three passengers down to Key West, Florida, the day before; one of the passengers was the owner of the airplane, but is not a pilot. The flight departed to return and when southeast of the airport, the pilot cancelled the instrument clearance. He reported that the wind was from 200 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, and landings were being conducted on runways 14 and 22. The flight was vectored for a landing on runway 14, and landed first on the right main landing gear and tailwheel due to the crosswind from the right. During the landing roll with full right aileron and left rudder input applied, the airplane ground looped to the right. The pilot further reported that he did not ask to land on runway 22 and that the wind was turbulent due to "trees and a newly constructed noise barrier on the upwind side of that runway." He further stated that the situation could have been prevented if he had insisted on landing on runway 22 which was the favored runway based on the wind direction, and there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N235AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N235AL), registered now, S/N 23067C, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235B - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235B](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235b) (registry code 5460109) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23067C - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cedar Key Seaplane Service Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2002 - Departed: KEYW, Key West, FL - Destination: KSRQ, Sarasota, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KSRQ, Sarasota/Bradenton Int'l, runway 14, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 23, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 28 in this make and model, 3,752 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSRQ ## 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 20020120005209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020120005209A), Jan 20, 2002: Maule M7235B, Sarasota-Braden, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 20, 2002, at 1345 EST, a Maule M-7-235B, N235AL, registered to cedar key seaplane service corporation, gainesville, Florida, ground looped on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54105. 543 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-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.