On March 27, 2003, a Maule M-5-235C (registration N366X) operated by William O. Deweese was involved in an aviation accident near Jay, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot to perform a go-around after bouncing following touchdown, resulting in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported that after two touch-and-go landings, a third landing attempt resulted in a bounce and subsequent nose-over. The pilot stated no mechanical failure occurred and that a go-around could have prevented the accident.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's account, the flight departed from its origin and proceeded to a private airstrip. The pilot performed two touch-and-go landings. After these, the flight remained in the traffic pattern for an additional touch-and-go landing. The airplane touched down on runway 27 with two notches of flaps extended, within the first third of the 2,000-foot runway. The airplane bounced during touchdown. The pilot maintained the tail-down attitude, and the airplane settled down into the ground. Believing he could complete the landing, the pilot committed to the landing roll. However, directional control was lost toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied differential braking in an attempt to correct, but the airplane nosed over. It came to rest approximately at the middle of the runway, near the departure end.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction throughout the flight. He further stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had executed a go-around after the bounce. The pilot's decision to continue the landing after the bounce was based on his assessment that he could safely complete the roll.