N51623

On August 28, 2005, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Maule M-5-210C airplane, N51623, sustained structural damage while landing at an off airport site, located about 50 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1500, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 29, the pilot reported that he was landing to the east on a ridgeline which required a correction for a right crosswind from the southeast. He stated that during the landing roll a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and he applied full right aileron in conjunction with heavy braking. He said that the wind subsequently pushed the airplane to the left, down a steep slope on the north side of the site, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.