On March 8, 1996, a Maule M-6-235 (registration N5652C) was involved in an aviation accident near Bishop, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout due to a crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway and sustaining damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported a normal landing followed by a crosswind-induced excursion where the left wing lifted, causing the aircraft to turn right, strike bushes, and nose over.
What happened
The pilot reported that the flight concluded with a normal landing. During the rollout phase on the runway, the aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of 40 to 45 miles per hour. At this point, the airplane encountered a crosswind originating from the left side.
The wind pressure caused the left wing to lift off the ground. This aerodynamic shift resulted in the airplane turning toward the right. The aircraft then departed the paved surface, rolling off the right shoulder of the runway. Upon leaving the runway environment, the airplane struck some bushes before coming to rest in a nose-over attitude.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout due to a crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway and sustaining damage.