- Date
- October 7, 2012, 12:53 local (19:53 UTC)
- Place
- Bishop, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9951Maule MX-7-180C
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20121007024999A
- Case key
- 85335
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 inadequate compensation for the variable wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that about 15 minutes before he arrived at the destination airport, he checked the airport automated surface observation system (ASOS), which reported variable wind at 3 knots. The radio communications on the airport common traffic advisory frequency indicated that runway 30 was in use; however, as the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern he noticed that pilots were also using runway 12. He elected to make a three-point landing on runway 30. As the airplane decelerated it began to veer right. The pilot tried unsuccessfully to correct the veer with left rudder and brake. The airplane went off the runway, and the left elevator and left aileron were substantially damaged. Although the wind was reported to be variable at 3 knots before the accident, a few minutes after the accident the ASOS reported wind from 160 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation during the flight.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that about 15 minutes before arriving at the destination airport he checked the airport automated surface observation system (ASOS), which reported variable wind at 3 knots. The radio communications on the airport common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) indicated that runway 30 was in use. As the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern he noticed that pilots were using both runway 12 and 30. He made a 3 point landing on runway 30. As the airplane decelerated it began to veer right. The pilot corrected with left rudder and brake but the airplane continued to veer to the right. The airplane went off the runway and damaged the left elevator and left aileron. The hour before the accident the airport ASOS reported wind variable at 3 knots. A few minutes after the accident, at 1256, the ASOS reported wind from 160 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots. The pilot stated that airplane had no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9951
- Reported as
- Maule MX-7-180C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28027C
- Airframe hours
- 909
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1F, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Broberg Richard
- Registered owner
- Broberg Richard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 12, 2012
- Departed
- KE16 · San Martin, CA
- Destination
- KBIH · Bishop, CA
- Airport
- KBIH · Eastern Sierra Regional Airpor, runway 30, 7,498 × 100 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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 15, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,130 total · 885 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KBIH
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 796 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.