- Date
- May 21, 2005, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Driggs, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N40318Maule M-4-220C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- SLC FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050521008809A
- Case key
- 61580
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve during the landing roll. A crosswind was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the approach and wheel landing was normal, but shortly after touchdown the airplane encountered a "slight gust" of wind and veered left of runway centerline. The pilot stated he applied right rudder, however overcorrected and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the wing assembly. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees at 5-10 knots.
Factual narrative
On May 21, 2005, about 0700 mountain daylight time, a tail wheel equipped Maule M-4-220C, N40318, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll-out at Reed Memorial Airport, Driggs, Idaho. The airplane is registered to South Ford Motor Sports, Inc, and was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, and the three passengers aboard the airplane, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Rexburg, Idaho, approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident.
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (IIC), dated May 21, the pilot reported that the approach and wheel landing was normal, but shortly after touchdown the airplane encountered a "slight gust" of wind and veered left of runway centerline. The pilot stated he applied right rudder, however overcorrected and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the wing assembly.
The pilot reported the winds at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees at 5-10 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40318
- Reported as
- Maule M-4-220C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2093C
- Airframe hours
- 1,150
- Engine
- Franklin, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Todd S. Christensen
- Registered owner
- South Ford Motor Sports
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2004
- Departed
- U11 · Rexburg, ID
- Destination
- U59 · Driggs, ID
- Airport
- U59 · Teton Peaks/Driggs Muni/, runway 21, 7,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 136 total · 10 in this make and model · 115 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N40318 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.