SEA94LA118

While landing on runway 17 the pilot allowed the aircraft's left wing to impact the asphalt. He then regained control and applied braking. The aircraft then veered right off the runway impacting a windsock pole. A westerly crosswind existed at the time of the accident.

On May 13, 1994, approximately 1400 hours Pacific daylight time (pdt), a tailwheel equipped Maule M-5-235C, N711CX, registered to Jerry Wilkinson, and being operated/flown by James L. White, a certificated private pilot, was substantially damaged when the aircraft's right wing impacted a windsock pole following a loss of control during landing rollout on runway 17 at the Columbia Airport, Columbia, California. The pilot and his dog were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions with a westerly crosswind existed at the time of the accident. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with 14CFR91, and had departed Sacramento, California, approximately 1215.

The pilot reported that just as the tailwheel was touching down a gust hit the aircraft lifting the right wing. The left wingtip momentarily scraped the runway before the pilot was able to regain control of the aircraft and begin braking. The pilot then applied brakes and the aircraft veered off the right (west) side of the runway and impacted the windsock pole.