On November 28, 1998, a Maule M-5-235C (registration N5636M) was involved in an aviation accident near Inyokern, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft sustained significant damage after a ground loop during landing on a calm day. The pilot reported touching down slightly fast, leading to loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the terrain.
What happened
The pilot reported that he landed 'a little fast' on the runway and the aircraft ground looped. The right wing tip impacted the terrain and the landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. The pilot further reported that he had approximately 27 hours in tail wheel aircraft, all in this specific make and model.
Findings
The ground loop resulted in substantial structural damage to the airframe. The landing gear failed under the stress of the impact. The right wing tip sustained contact with the ground surface during the uncontrolled rotation. Environmental conditions were noted as calm, suggesting no significant wind component contributed to the directional instability.
The pilot's experience was limited to approximately 27 hours in tail wheel aircraft, all within the same make and model. This lack of diverse experience may have impacted the ability to recover from the high-speed touchdown and subsequent loss of control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the aircraft.