N56552Maule M-5-180C · 1984

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the flare, while landing on a road in gusty crosswind conditions, the right wing lifted to about a 60° angle. He immediately initiated a go-around and added full power, full right aileron, and lowered the nose. The airplane had drifted off the center of the road to the left heading toward powerlines, and he elected to go under them. After the airplane cleared the powerlines, the left wingtip struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.

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