Summary
On November 04, 2000, a Maule MX-7-180A (N3079Z) was involved in an incident near St. Marys, GA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a sideward skid, a collapsed main landing gear strut, and wing strike.
On November 4, 2000, about 1145 eastern standard time, a Maule MX-7-180A, N3079Z, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained a collapsed main landing gear during landing at St. Mary’s Airport, St. Mary’s, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the same airport about 15 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot, he was conducting stop and go landings on St. Mary’s runway 22 when a gust of wind lifted the right wingtip during his third landing flare.
This incident is documented in NTSB report MIA01LA025. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3079Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a sideward skid, a collapsed main landing gear strut, and wing strike.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On November 4, 2000, about 1145 eastern standard time, a Maule MX-7-180A, N3079Z, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained a collapsed main landing gear during landing at St. Mary’s Airport, St. Mary’s, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the same airport about 15 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot, he was conducting stop and go landings on St. Mary’s runway 22 when a gust of wind lifted the right wingtip during his third landing flare. The pilot's corrective action on the controls took effect about the time the wind gust abated, and a right sideward skid developed. The skid caused the right main landing gear strut to collapse, resulting in a ground strike of the right wingtip and propeller.
According to an FAA inspector, the pilot stated to him that the main factor in the accident was his loss of control of the aircraft on landing. An FAA certified mechanic confirmed that wing damage included damage to the spar.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA01LA025