SEA95LA001

Factual narrative

On October 1, 1994, at 1240 hours mountain daylight time (mdt), a Maule M-5-235C, N664G, registered to and being flown by William P. Rust, a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane ground looped, and the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll at the Billings-Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The pilot and his two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with 14CFR91, and originated from Helena, Montana, approximately 1100 hours. The pilot reported that he was cleared to land on runway 28R, and was advised by the tower controller that the winds were from 190 degrees at nine knots. After touch down, the pilot stated that he was maintaining directional control, on the runway centerline, with full aileron deflection into the wind. A gust of wind from the left lifted the left wing and the pilot stated that as he was correcting with rudder control, his toe slipped and he applied the left brake. The airplane began to drift to the left and the pilot applied full right rudder control, however, the pilot stated that as the airspeed decreased, he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground. Post crash inspection of the brakes did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE LEFT WING RAISED AND AS HE WAS CORRECTING WITH LEFT RUDDER CONTROL, HIS TOE SLIPPED AND HE APPLIED THE LEFT BRAKE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER CONTROL; HOWEVER, AS THE AIRSPEED DECREASED, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12