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April 30, 2017 · Maule MX7 180A · N3035M

Floydada, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Floydada, TX
Aircraft
Maule MX7 180A (1993)
Tail Number
N3035M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
GAA17CA252

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was moving the airplane across the country for a friend and had multiple refueling stops along his route. He added that, on his first attempt to land on the asphalt runway, he conducted a go-around due to the strong crosswind, and during the subsequent approach, he landed in the grass next to the asphalt runway to touch down with a gusting headwind. Once stopped in the grass with the engine running, he radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency to ask for assistance to tie down the airplane, but after 5 to 10 minutes, no one had responded. He added, "suddenly" a wind gust lifted the left wing, and the airplane corkscrewed clockwise and nosed over. The right and left wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 330° at 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots at the time of the accident. An automated weather observation station (AWOS), 22 nautical miles (nm) northwest from the accident site, recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 42 knots. Another AWOS, 32 nm southwest from the accident site, recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 43 knots. A review of the recorded hourly weather observations from the two AWOSs revealed that, from about 30 minutes before the pilot departed to 1 hour after the accident time, the wind remained consistent from the northwest about 30 knots, gusting to 38 to 46 knots. The pilot reported that he had on-board weather capability.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's decision to fly into and land at an area of known widespread high gusting wind, which resulted in a nose-over.

Full Narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was moving the airplane across the country for a friend and had multiple refueling stops along his route. He added that on his first attempt to land on the asphalt runway, he did a go-around due to the strong crosswind, and during the subsequent approach, he landed in the grass next to the asphalt runway in order to touchdown with a gusting headwind. Once stopped in the grass with the engine running, he radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency to ask for assistance to tie down the airplane, but after 5 to 10 minutes no one had responded. He added, "suddenly" a wind gust lifted the left wing and the airplane corkscrewed clockwise and nosed over. The right and left wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was 330° at 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots at the time of the accident. An automated weather observation station (AWOS), 22 nautical miles (NM) northwest from the accident site, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 42 knots. An additional AWOS, 32 NM southwest from the accident site, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 43 knots. A review of the recorded hourly weather observations at the aforementioned AWOS's, revealed that about 30 minutes before the pilot departed and one hour after the accident time, wind remained consistent from the northwest about 30 knots, gusting to 38 – 46 knots. The pilot reported that he had on-board weather capability.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 CDT
Nearest AirportFloydada Muni (0nm N)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule MX7 180A
Tail NumberN3035M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-C4F · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 29 kt, gusting 42 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 27 C
Altimeter29.88 inHg
Observation Time18:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data