Siskiyou Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montague, California 96064
Friday, March 15, 2002 13:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped during the landing roll. According to the pilot, the landing was a three point on runway 17, with no apparent adverse wind conditions or turbulence. The airplane rolled straight ahead for approximately 200 feet and then commenced an immediate uncommanded left turn, which the pilot said was not correctable with brake or rudder. The airplane ultimately ground looped to the left resulting in considerable damage to the airplane. The reported winds at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees at 5 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Montague
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96064
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414600N
Event Location Longitude 1222800W
Event Location Airport Siskiyou
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SIY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SIY
Elevation of weather observation facility 2648
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19897
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Sacramento, California

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7ZF
NTSB Number LAX02LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Maule
Aircraft Model M-7-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26012c
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3.7
Airframe Hours 85.7
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name George A. Cordingly, Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Yreka
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96097
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name George A. Cordingly, Jr.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1O5
Departure City Montague
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SIY
Destination City Montague
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2006 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 7484
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --