# NTSB SEA01LA126: Maule M-5-210C, N349X, Big Creek, ID, July 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2001, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Big Creek, ID - Coordinates: 45.133335, -115.317497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1333&lon=-115.3175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52664/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions during the landing roll. High and gusting winds were factors. ## 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 - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll with strong gusting winds, the airplane weathervaned into the wind. The airplane then veered off the side of the airstrip and collided with an irrigation pipe. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2001, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-210C, N349X, registered to and operated by the private pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with an irrigation pipe and subsequently the ground during landing at Big Creek, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Nampa, Idaho, at an unknown time. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that during the landing to the south with a gusting cross wind, the airplane weathervaned into the wind and veered off the airstrip. The right wing made contact with the ground and the tail collided with an irrigation pipe. The pilot reported that the wind was from the south at 20 knots, gusting to 30. The Idaho Airport Facilities Directory reports that the Big Creek airstrip is 3,550 feet long by 110 feet wide. The surface is turf and the elevation is 5,743 feet mean sea level. The remarks section states, "Recommend land rwy 19, take off rwy 01 when wind permits. Pilots should be experienced in high density altitude and turbulent air. Be alert for sprinklers on rwy." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N349X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N349X), registered now, S/N 6161C, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5-210C - Registry model: [Maule M-5-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (registry code 5460134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6161C - Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry D. Mehaffey - Registered owner: Michael Knefley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2001 - Departed: S67, Nampa, ID - Destination: Big Creek, ID - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: U60, Big Creek, runway 19, 3,550 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 31, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 168 total, 67 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: MYL, 36 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 20010706015899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010706015899A), Jul 6, 2001: Maule M5210C, Big Creek, ID, No damage. (-23) On the rollout after landing at Big Creek airstrip, the pilot claims that a strong left quartering headwind forced his aircraft to weather vane into the… ## Other investigations on N349X (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC21LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA058), Jul 7, 2021: Maule M-5-210C (N349X), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s impact with a log while dragging an off-airport landing site. 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.