Maule M-4 N2039U

Summary

On 5 March 2008 at about 21:00 local time, a Maule M-4 registered N2039U was involved in an accident near Jerome, Idaho, United States. 3 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

5 March 2008 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Jerome, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Jerome County (JER)

Coordinates

42.7267, -114.4564

Aircraft

Maule M-4

Registration

N2039U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jerome → Jerome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA086

Nobody was injured.

The failure of both pilots to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were departing runway 26 on an instructional flight in a tail wheel equipped airplane. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who was seated in the right seat, reported that the student pilot was manipulating the flight controls during the takeoff roll and the airplane drifted left of runway centerline. The student pilot corrected the situation, but the airplane began to track right of runway center line and the CFI took the flight controls. The flight instructor stated he applied left rudder and brake, but the airplane continued to track to the right and eventually exited the right shoulder of the runway. After exiting the runway, the airplane collided with a large rock and the left main landing gear strut collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Following the accident, the CFI reported that the brakes functioned properly during the preflight, however, appeared to have not been working during the accident sequence. A representative from the FAA examined the airplane and reported that the brakes were damaged and functional testing was not possible. The pilot reported that the wind was from the west at 4 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.