N982NW

On August 16, 1999, at 1345 central daylight time (cdt), a Maule MXT7-180A, N982NW, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and the ground during a go-around maneuver following an aborted landing on runway 22 (3,300' by 70', dry asphalt) at the Madeline Island Airport, LaPointe, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed a restricted landing area near Robsco, Minnesota, about 1200 cdt.

The pilot said he was aware of a crosswind from the west while on final approach for runway 22. He said the airplane's nose pointed to the left of the runway's centerline as the airplane was touching down. The pilot said a "...sudden gust of wind weather vaned the plane to the left side of runway 22." He said he decided to abort the landing and go around. According to the pilot, the airplane did not gain sufficient altitude to clear the trees it was approaching. The trees were about 15 to 20 feet high and "...approximately 300 feet southeast..." of the runway, according to the LaPointe Police Department incident report.

A witness to the accident reported that "The wind was gusting and the pilot was making corrections..." during the landing approach. The witness continues, "Just as he touched down, he was drifting to the left of the runway, and was almost all the way off it. His wheels touched down momentarily, then his right wing came up sharply and the plane lifted off the ground, curving up and to the left in an uncontrolled turn. The plane didn't get above 30 [to] 50 feet [above the ground] and vanished over the brush and trees... ."

The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the landing approach and events leading to the collision with the trees.