On December 26, 2005, a Maule M-7-235 (registration N75VX) was involved in an aviation accident near Moriarty, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing factors included the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision making and the high velocity, gusty winds. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted to land on runway 26. During the landing roll, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer right. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the left wing struck an embankment, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain substantial damage. FAA examination found no system anomalies.
Event Description
The pilot reported that the landing attempt was on runway 26. During the landing roll, a gust of wind caused the airplane to loop to the right. In response, the pilot added engine power and initiated a go-around maneuver. During the go-around, the left wing of the airplane struck an embankment. The impact with the embankment caused the airplane to nose over. The nose-over event resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
Examination
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted an examination of the airplane's systems following the accident. The examination found no anomalies or malfunctions in the aircraft's systems.
Weather Conditions
Weather records indicate that the wind at the time of the accident was from 290 degrees at 25 knots, with gusts up to 32 knots. These conditions were recorded at the airport.