# Accident 20040903027939A: Maule MX7235, Ashville, FL, September 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2004, 11:40 local time
- Place: Ashville, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.6014° N, 83.6294° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6014&lon=-83.6294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N660HB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N660HB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule MX-7-235 (registry code 5470207, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE MX7235
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 363 total, 18 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA04LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040903027939A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2004, AT 1140 EDT, A MAULE MX-7-235, N660HB, REGISTERED TO BERNIS OLD SEAPLANE COMPANY, INC., WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A POND, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE LAKE NEAR ORLANDO, FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2004, AT 0930 HOURS. IN A STATEMENT TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ADVISED THE MOULTRIE AIRPORT THAT HE WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRCRAFT DID RUN OUT OF FUEL. HE SAID THAT HE SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN THE SMALL LAKE AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED. IN STATEMENTS TO THE FAA, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD THE FUEL TOPPED OFF IN WINTERHAVEN, FLORIDA AND HAD FLOWN ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR MOULTRIE, GEORGIA ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE SAID THE FUEL WAS THREE INCHES FROM THE TOP WHEN HE LEFT FOR MOULTRIE, GEORGIA. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO FUSELAGE TUBING AND THE LEFT WING SPAR WHEN IT STRUCK A CYPRESS TREE IN THE POND DURING THE LANDING.THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHO DISMANTLED AND RETRIEVED THE AIRCRAFT, DRAINED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE WINGS. THE TOTAL UNUSABLE MAIN FUEL IS 3 GALLONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA04LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA126), Sep 3, 2004: Maule MX-7-235 (N660HB), Greenville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation to ensure an adequate fuel supply is a contributing factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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