Maule M-7-235B N235AL

Summary

On 20 January 2002 at about 18:45 local time, a Maule M-7-235B registered N235AL was involved in an accident near Sarasota, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 2002 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sarasota, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sarasota/Bradenton Int'l (KSRQ)

Coordinates

27.3953, -82.5539

Aircraft

Maule M-7-235B

Registration

N235AL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Key West → Sarasota

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA02LA056

Nobody was injured.

The poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot-in-command for his failure to request the runway most aligned with the wind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he flew the airplane and three passengers down to Key West, Florida, the day before; one of the passengers was the owner of the airplane, but is not a pilot. The flight departed to return and when southeast of the airport, the pilot cancelled the instrument clearance. He reported that the wind was from 200 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, and landings were being conducted on runways 14 and 22. The flight was vectored for a landing on runway 14, and landed first on the right main landing gear and tailwheel due to the crosswind from the right. During the landing roll with full right aileron and left rudder input applied, the airplane ground looped to the right. The pilot further reported that he did not ask to land on runway 22 and that the wind was turbulent due to "trees and a newly constructed noise barrier on the upwind side of that runway." He further stated that the situation could have been prevented if he had insisted on landing on runway 22 which was the favored runway based on the wind direction, and there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.