Summary
On May 31, 2019, a Maule M4 (N9833M) was involved in an incident near Fairbanks, AK. 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 the runway centerline during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing with the left wheel off the runway, an impact with trees, and a nose-over.
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel runway, he noticed that he "floated slightly off of the center of the runway to the west". He touched down with the left wheel off the runway in some vegetation, and the airplane nosed over.
Postaccident examination revealed that there were alder branches wrapped around the left main landing gear and the landing gear locked up. The pilot removed the branches and the landing gear moved "fine."
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported that the wind was from 090° and light and variable.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA305. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9833M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain the runway centerline during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing with the left wheel off the runway, an impact with trees, and a nose-over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel runway, he noticed that he "floated slightly off of the center of the runway to the west". He touched down with the left wheel off the runway in some vegetation, and the airplane nosed over.
Postaccident examination revealed that there were alder branches wrapped around the left main landing gear and the landing gear locked up. The pilot removed the branches and the landing gear moved "fine."
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported that the wind was from 090° and light and variable. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 33.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA305