Accident Details
On April 12, 2008, at 1550 Pacific daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, registration N9277E, veered off the left side of the runway and nosed over after landing at Firstair Field in Monroe, Washington. The aircraft was operated by a private pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Woodland, Washington, at 1435. The pilot and his two passengers were not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, during the landing rollout, a moderate right crosswind gust of 7 to 8 knots affected the airplane, causing it to drift left. He applied right rudder to compensate, but as he applied repeated right rudder pressure, the airplane continued drifting left. It went off the runway onto a grass shoulder and then nosed over into a drainage ditch. The pilot noted that the passenger in the copilot's seat was very nervous and tense throughout the flight. With the sudden left movement after landing, the passenger may have tensed up and inadvertently blocked the rudder pedals with his feet.
Aircraft and Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that the airplane and engine experienced no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.