Maule M-4-220C accident near Tucson, Arizona, August 4, 2005
On August 4, 2005 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Maule M-4-220C, registered N2020U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2005 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2020U · registry record · serial 2014C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped during the landing ground roll. After performing a normal approach, the pilot configured the airplane for a three-point landing. The airplane touched down over the runway centerline and transitioned to a landing roll. As the pilot was about to apply brake pressure, the airplane suddenly veered right of the runway centerline, and he experienced a loss of directional control. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the runway surface. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLH Blythe CA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06L, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KTUS, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX05CA260.