NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ERA20CA098
Registry · N309MA
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
MAULE M-7-260
Year of manufacture
1999 · 21 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19990225
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A341D5
Registrant of record
SCHONEBERGER ERIC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's improper landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced and veered to the left. The right wing struck the surface and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 8 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 35. The pilot reported that, during a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced and veered left. The right wing struck the runway, and the airplane then ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2020_ERA20CA098.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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