SEA95LA216

After encountering crosswinds, the pilot-in-command landed long on his third approach. During the full stall landing he encountered a gust and due to trees at the upwind end of the landing area he 'hesitated to apply power.' The aircraft landed hard and the gear collapsed.

On September 11, 1995, approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, being flown by a private pilot, was substan- tially damaged during a hard landing at a remote landing site approximately 11 nautical miles northeast of Moab, Utah. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. No flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated at Salt Lake City, Utah, approximately 1530 hours.

The pilot reported that on his first approach to land he encountered a crosswind and executed a go-around. He executed a second approach which was terminated in a go-around due to the still existent (but lesser) crosswind condition. The pilot reported that he executed a third approach and that "after the airplane had stalled for a 3-point landing I encountered a strong wind gust that lifted the plane." He further reported that "because I had landed long [refer to photograph 1] I hesitated to apply power (trees at end of field) [refer to photograph 2]" and the "airplane dropped in hard and the landing gear collapsed."