Maule M-5-210C N378X

Summary

On 31 August 2012 at about 02:00 local time, a Maule M-5-210C registered N378X, operated by Michael Whisenant, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 August 2012 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Juneau International (PAJN)

Coordinates

58.3550, -134.5764

Aircraft

Maule M-5-210C

Registration

N378X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael Whisenant

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Juneau → Juneau

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12CA098

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during landing, resulting in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction had recently returned to flying after a long absence, and he hired a flight instructor to assist him in becoming familiar and proficient with a recently purchased tailwheel-equipped airplane. Although not proficient, the pilot did possess a current tailwheel endorsement. During landing, the pilot said he overcorrected, and the airplane ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left aileron. The instructor said that he had been asked to substitute for the pilot's primary instructor and that he overestimated the pilot's ability and did not take control of the airplane. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.