On August 9, 1987, a Maule M-4-210C (registration N51436) operated by Todd R. Gills was involved in an aviation accident near Burnt Chimney, VA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to land on a 1400-foot grass airstrip initiated a go-around after a passenger warned they would not stop. During a subsequent climb, the right wing struck a tree while flying under power lines, resulting in a collision with the ground.
Incident Overview
The pilot of an aircraft attempted to land on a 1400-foot grass airstrip. During the landing roll, a passenger alerted the pilot that the aircraft would not stop on the runway. This prompted the pilot to initiate a go-around. After the go-around, the pilot made a second attempt to stop, but realizing that stopping was not possible, he again initiated a go-around.
Sequence of Events
During the climb following the second go-around, a power line blocked the aircraft's path. The pilot attempted to fly under the wires. While maneuvering to avoid the power line, the aircraft's right wing struck a tree. The aircraft then descended and collided with the ground in an open field.