NTSB Factual Report

On April 23, 2003, at 1408 central daylight time, a Maule M-5-210C, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage after it ground looped and impacted terrain during landing on runway 27 (6,000 feet by 100 feet, dry grooved asphalt) at Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD), Ironwood, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed from Kings Land O' Lakes Airport (LNL), Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, at 1320, en route to IWD.

The pilot stated that the tail wheel "shimmied" when he made a three point landing on touchdown. He pushed in on the yoke to lift the tail wheel and then pulled on the yoke. He stated that he was not sure if the left turn began at that time. He then applied full power when he saw the edge of the runway approaching and stated that he did not have enough airspeed to regain lift prior to crossing into the grassy area next to the runway. The airplane then impacted a drainage ditch about 100 feet south of the runway.

Inspection of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no anomalies with the airplane's tailwheel and flight control system.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent ground loop on landing. A contributing factor was the ditch.