# Accident 20110516008909A: Maule M-7-235B, May 16, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2011, 14:09 local time
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7394° N, 110.5342° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7394&lon=-110.5342&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1048T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1048T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-7-235B (registry code 5460109, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-235B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 415 in this make and model, 197 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11CA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA224) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110516008909A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED OFF-FIELD LANDING ON DIRT ROAD TO EXPLORE GHOST TOWN. DURING LANDING, RIGHT WING STRUCK MESQUITE TREE CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO DEPART ROAD AND TIP ONTO NOSE AND THEN ON OVER ONTO BACK.AT APPROXIMATELY 13:45 LOCAL, AIRCRAFT ARRIVED OVER COPPER CREEK GHOST TOWN. THE PILOT CIRCLED THE AREA AT APPROX. 1000' AGL, LOOKING FOR INDICATIONS OF LOCAL WIND CONDITIONS AND AN ADEQUATE LANDING SIGHT. THE PILOT INTENDED TO LAND AND EXPLORE THE GHOST TOWN. THE PILOT RECEIVED AWOS FROM SAN MANUEL AIRPORT (E77).  THE LOCAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS WERE SMOOTH AND NO SURFACE INDICATIONS OF WIND.  PILOT LOCATED A (SEEMINGLY) ADEQUATE SECTION OF DIRT ROAD APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST OF COPPER CREEK.  PILOT CIRCLED THE LANDING SIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES AND MADE 3 LOW APPROACHES TO INSPECT THE AREA. THE PILOT'S PLAN WAS TO LAND TO THE EAST WITH AN UPHILL GRADE.  THERE WERE LOW OBSTRUCTIONS (BRUSH AND CACTUS) ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS HARD PACKED DRY DIRT WITH SOME SMALL ROCKS AND GRAVEL ON IT.AT APPROXIMATELY 14:00 LOCAL, THE PILOT MADE A SLOW STOL FULL FLAP APPROACH TO A 3 POINT LANDING.  TOUCH DOWN SPEED WAS REPORTED AS APPROX 45-50 MPH.  SHORTLY AFTER TOUCH DOWN THE RIGHT WING HIT A SCRUB BUSH AT THE LANDING LIGHT LOCATION, NEAR THE WING TIP. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO LEFT RUDDER INPUT. (DUE TO LOW AIRSPEED)  THE MAIN WHEELS SKIDDED WITH THE YAW INITIALLY BUT SOON TRACKED APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES RIGHT OF CENTER.  THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL THEN THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL PLOWED THROUGH A PATCH OF PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS.  THE DECELERATION CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER AND FLIP ONTO ITS BACK.  PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE ON THE LEFT WITH NO INJURIES.  AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT RECORDS PRODUCED NO INDICATIONS OF MECHANICAL/MAINTENANCE IRREGULARITIES THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO EVENT. THE PILOT HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRCRAFT; HE JUST MADE A MISTAKE ON SELECTING A LANDING SITE.

## 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 WPR11CA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA224), May 16, 2011: Maule M7 (N1048T), Mammoth, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree during the landing roll.

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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