On April 12, 2003, a Maule M4 (registration N4714T) was involved in an aviation accident near Danielson, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds, and failure to maintain directional control. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing practice on a 2,700-ft asphalt runway, a pilot experienced a wind gust after touchdown, causing the airplane to yaw left and depart the runway. The right wing struck the ground; no mechanical issues were reported.
Accident Details
The pilot was conducting landing practice on runway 31, a 2,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide asphalt runway. After touchdown, a wind gust caused the airplane to yaw to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway. During the excursion, the right wing struck the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported approximately 1,930 hours of total flight experience. This included about 1,885 hours in single-engine airplanes and 25 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane.
Weather Conditions
Winds reported at an airport located about 15 miles west-southwest of the accident site were from 360 degrees at 11 knots. There was no additional weather information provided.