NTSB Factual Report

On December 13, 2003, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a Maule M-4-210, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it ground looped and nosed over during landing at the Flying Lazy D airstrip, located 2 miles south of Elbert, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Calhan, Colorado, approximately 0930.

In a telephone interview, the pilot said he had received an endorsement to fly conventional (tail wheel, fixed landing gear) airplanes earlier in the week. He and his wife had flown to Calhan, Colorado, that morning to refuel the airplane, and were returning to the Flying Lazy D when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, he made a three-point landing on runway 17. As the airplane was rolling out on the dirt runway, it veered left onto a plowed field and nosed over. The right wing lift strut was buckled, the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing tip were crushed.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A contributing factor was his inexperience in aircraft type.