Probable cause
The airplane’s encounter with a large hole in the runway during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
During a landing on a private dirt strip, the right main landing gear struck a large, hidden gopher hole, and the airplane veered to the right. Before the pilot could correct the excursion, the right wing struck sage brush along the edge of the runway, impacted a berm, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and to the left upper wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR12CA398 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 5, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Eagle Mountain, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Glenmar Ranch Airport (UT41)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built MA-5 Charger
- N-number
- N795MC
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.