Maule M-5-180C N171GS

Summary

On 2 January 2012 at about 18:00 local time, a Maule M-5-180C registered N171GS was involved in an accident near River Ranch, Florida, 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

2 January 2012 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

River Ranch, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

River Ranch (2RR)

Coordinates

27.9008, -81.5801

Aircraft

Maule M-5-180C

Registration

N171GS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indiantown → River Ranch

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA134

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after encountering a wind gust during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the flight was conducted in visual flight rule conditions, and when he arrived at the destination airport he noted no airplanes in the area. He said that he heard no radio communications to indicate the appropriate landing direction, saw no signs of wind direction as he approached the airport, and the airport’s wind sock did not indicate a wind or direction. The pilot elected to land on runway 16. When the airplane touched down, an unexpected wind gust pushed the airplane right of the runway center line. The pilot tried to straighten the airplane; however, the left wing tip and the left horizontal stabilizer tip contacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.