No fatalities

27 Jun 2019: Maule M5 235C — Gillette, WY

Gillette, WY, United States

On 27 Jun 2019, a Maule M5 235C was involved in an aviation accident near Gillette, WY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over during landing on a private turf airstrip when it touched down on a soft section of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported no mechanical failures.

Accident Summary

The accident occurred during the landing phase of a flight conducted using a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The intended landing area was a private turf airstrip. According to the pilot, upon touchdown on the soft end of the runway, the airplane nosed over. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage, specifically to the right-wing lift strut. The right-wing lift strut is a structural component connecting the wing to the fuselage, and substantial damage typically necessitates repair or replacement.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions present before the accident that would have hindered normal operation. The pilot also commented that he should have performed a flyover of the airstrip to evaluate its condition prior to attempting the landing.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation