# NTSB NYC08CA096: Maule M-7-260C, N721H, Cumming, GA, February 10, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 10, 2008, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Cumming, GA
- Coordinates: 34.101112, -84.161109
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1011&lon=-84.1611&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68048/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA096

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident were the gusty crosswind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot of the Maule M-7-260C, he attempted a landing on runway 21 after a "normal pattern approach." He made a crosswind correction on final approach, and at touchdown, encountered a windshear that caused the airplane to balloon 20 to 25 feet at "near zero" forward groundspeed. The pilot attempted to go around, but the crosswind shift blew the airplane into hangars bordering the left side of the runway. The pilot further noted that he couldn't regain lateral control when the wind shifted to a right crosswind, and that if he had allowed the airplane to descend from the balloon height with only a partial application of power to soften the landing, he might not have been blown into the hangars. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Runway 21 was 1,800 feet long and 35 feet wide. Winds, recorded at an airport 12 nautical miles to the southeast about the time of the accident, were from 280 degrees at 16, gusting to 26 knots.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the Maule M-7-260C, he attempted a landing on runway 21 after a "normal pattern approach." He made a crosswind correction on final approach, and at touchdown, encountered a windshear that caused the airplane to balloon 20 to 25 feet at "near zero" forward groundspeed. The pilot attempted to go around, but the crosswind shift blew the airplane into hangars bordering the left side of the runway. The pilot further noted that he couldn't regain lateral control when the wind shifted to a right crosswind, and that if he had allowed the airplane to descend from the balloon height with only a partial application of power to soften the landing, he might not have been blown into the hangars. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Runway 21 was 1,800 feet long and 35 feet wide. Winds, recorded at an airport 12 nautical miles to the southeast about the time of the accident, were from 280 degrees at 16, gusting to 26 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N721H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N721H), registered now, S/N 30021C (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M-7-260C
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-260C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260c) (registry code 5470112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30021C
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jack R. Keller
- Registered owner: Intown Residential Development LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 49A, Ellijay, GA
- Destination: GA27, Cumming, GA
- Airport: GA27, Mathis Airport, runway 21, 1,800 × 35 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 532 total, 200 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: LZU, 12 nm away

## 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 20080210833279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080210833279A), Feb 10, 2008: Maule M7260C, Cumming, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) At the time of the accident the aircraft was operating properly. No mechanical problems were indicated by the pilot. The noaa historical weather records…

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.

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