Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 15, 1996, approximately 1415 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, N9194E, registered to and operated by Hickert Land Co., Inc., was substantially damaged during landing at Akron, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Akron at approximately 1400.

According to the pilot, he made a full flap 3-point landing on runway 11. During the landing roll, the right landing gear lifted off the runway. He applied right aileron and left rudder, but the airplane did not respond and began tracking to the right. He decided to abort the landing and added power slowly "to aid lift to the left wing." The airplane continued to track to the right. It then went off the side of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with a dirt bank.

According to Akron's Automatic Surface Observation System (ASOS) sequence report recorded 22 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 140 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot also estimated the wind to be from the same direction and velocity at the time of the accident. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.