Maule M-5-235C N9103E accident near Hickman, Kentucky

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in a runway undershoot.

NTSB analysis

At the conclusion of a local flight the pilot was returning to his private grass airstrip. He reported the wind was gusting to about 13 knots, and while on short final approach to land, he felt that the wind died abruptly and the airplane “lost lift.” The airplane descended before contacting a field of soybeans just short of the runway. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest near the approach end of the runway. The pilot was seriously injured and airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical empennage, rudder, and wing struts.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA259 for the full record.