Teton Peaks/Driggs Muni/ Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Driggs, Idaho 83422
Saturday, May 21, 2005 7:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the approach and wheel landing was normal, but shortly after touchdown the airplane encountered a "slight gust" of wind and veered left of runway centerline. The pilot stated he applied right rudder, however overcorrected and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left main gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the wing assembly. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees at 5-10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve during the landing roll. A crosswind was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 700
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Driggs
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83422
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434431N
Event Location Longitude 1110552W
Event Location Airport TETON PEAKS/DRIGGS MUNI/
Event Location Nearest Airport ID U59
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.025
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6228
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 18540
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 21 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office SLC FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N40318
NTSB Number SEA05LA101
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-4-220C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2093C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jun 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1150
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name South Ford Motor Sports
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12843 N 175 E
Aircraft Owner City Ririe
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83443
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Todd S. Christensen
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Rigby
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83442
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code U11
Departure City REXBURG
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 630
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code U59
Destination City DRIGGS
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 18 2005 5:31PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 7300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --