History of Flight
On November 30, 2010, approximately 1350 central standard time, a Maule M5-180C, registered as N244RC, was destroyed when control was lost on landing and the airplane impacted terrain at a private airstrip near Emory, Texas. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated at Durant, Oklahoma, approximately 1230. The pilot's son reported that his father had departed Emory at 0900 that morning, flew to Bonham, Texas, for lunch, and then planned to fly to Durant to pick up boxes of peanuts. The pilot expressed concern about high winds in Durant and Emory during a phone call with his son.
A witness observed the airplane land, bounce once, wobble left and right, bounce again, then pull up as power was applied to about 100 feet, wobble, bank hard left, and spin into the ground. The airplane remained upright until it caught fire, then fell onto its back. The witness reported a strong crosswind from the south and south-southwest. Sheriff's deputies and fire personnel confirmed very strong winds while extinguishing the fire.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 80, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine, multiengine, and instrument ratings, and a third-class medical certificate dated April 30, 2010, with a restriction for corrective lenses. His logbook was destroyed. He estimated 1,300 total flight hours. His son stated the pilot had limited experience in the Maule and at his airstrip, having not flown for 25 years before recently resuming flying.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, N244RC (serial number 8025C), was a 1984 Maule M5-180C powered by a Lycoming O-360-C1F engine rated at 180 horsepower, driving a Hartzell two-blade constant-speed propeller. An annual inspection had been completed the day before the accident at an airframe total time of 786.6 hours. During the inspection, an exhaust leak was repaired. The airplane had Supplemental Type Certificates for vortex generators and tundra tires.
Meteorological Information
Weather observations from nearby stations around the accident time reported winds from 280 to 320 degrees at 4 to 19 knots with gusts up to 24 knots, and clear skies. The pilot was concerned about high winds. Witnesses and firefighting personnel reported very strong winds from the south and south-southwest.
Aerodrome Information
The airstrip was on private property, unnamed, with one runway measuring 2,000 by 75 feet, aligned on a magnetic heading of 015-195 degrees, at an elevation of about 500 feet mean sea level. The surface was rough grass and dirt, not level, with contour disc plowing. A hangar with a windsock was present. FAA inspectors noted the windsock indicated a southerly wind the day after the accident.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest upside down, burned, approximately 500 feet from the runway, on a heading of 320 degrees. The left wing struck a small tree before impacting terrain in a near-vertical attitude. Flight control continuity was established, with the flap control lever in the second detent. A dirt dauber nest was found on the left wing aileron cable but did not interfere with control movement. The engine was pushed back into the firewall, and the propeller separated at the crankshaft. The cockpit mixture and throttle controls were full forward. The cabin heater box showed evidence of exhaust residues and gray discoloration, but no anomalies were found during subsequent examination.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot's son reported that his father seemed normal on the day of the accident.
Tests and Research
On January 12, 2011, examination of the exhaust and muffler revealed no anomalies.