Maule MX-7-180C N1052U

Summary

On 18 January 2009 at about 20:10 local time, a Maule MX-7-180C registered N1052U, operated by Strickland Thomas M, was involved in an accident near Akron, Alabama, United States. 2 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

18 January 2009 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Akron, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Strickland-Smalley Field (AL03)

Coordinates

32.8708, -87.7309

Aircraft

Maule MX-7-180C

Registration

N1052U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Strickland Thomas M

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tuscaloosa → Akron

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA136

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he overflew his private airfield prior to landing and noted that the wind was out of the west and "gusty". The wind was estimated by the pilot to be between 12 and 14 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. He elected to land on runway one without flaps and maintained an airspeed between 5 and 10 mph higher than normal due to the gusty conditions. During the flare, he was twice lifted by wind gusts before finally settling on the runway in a nose high attitude just left of centerline. The airplane began to yaw to the left and the pilot attempted to correct with the application of right brake. The airplane continued to the left until the left wing contacted a windsock, damaging the wing and causing the airplane to ground-loop around the windsock. The airplane came to rest after the right wing and elevator contacted the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.