# NTSB WPR09CA311: Maule M-5-235C, N725V, Dixie, ID, June 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2009, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Dixie, ID - Coordinates: 45.396667, -115.483329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3967&lon=-115.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74134/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74134 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA311 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and his passenger had been traveling across the country visiting backcountry airstrips. They had spent two nights at a backcountry airstrip and decided to go on a day flight to one of the other airstrips in the area that was 1,500 feet in length by 50 feet wide. After surveying the landing area, the pilot stated that, as he neared the approach end of the runway, he was approximately 20 feet above ground level when the airplane dropped straight down. The pilot indicated that his airspeed was slow and that he most likely encountered a downdraft. This resulted in the airplane landing hard on the runway surface, and the airplane porpoised prior to impacting rising terrain and trees. There were no mechanical malfunctions reported. ## Factual narrative The pilot and his passenger had been traveling across the country visiting backcountry airstrips. They had spent two nights at a backcountry airstrip and decided to go on a day flight to one of the other airstrips in the area that was 1,500 feet in length by 50 feet wide. After surveying the landing area, the pilot stated that as he neared the approach end of the runway, he was approximately 20 feet above ground level when the airplane dropped straight down. The pilot indicated that his airspeed was slow and that he most likely encountered a downdraft. This resulted in the airplane landing hard on the runway surface and the airplane porpoised, prior to impacting rising terrain and trees. There were no mechanical malfunctions reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: N725V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-5-235C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7480C - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James G Kusian - Registered owner: James G Kusian - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MYL, McCall, ID - Destination: ID76, Dixie, ID - Airport: ID76, Wilson Bar USFS, runway 24, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,255 total, 430 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: MYL, 40 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 20090625010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090625010619A), Jun 25, 2009: Maule M5235C, Dixie, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On short final to runway 24, at an altitude approximately 20 feet AGL, the aircraft stalled and proceeded to bounce once, upon second contact with the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74134. 210 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.