# NTSB ANC07CA087: Maule M7, N717E, Bettles, AK, August 17, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 17, 2007, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK
- Coordinates: 67.46833, -151.228332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.4683&lon=-151.2283&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66774
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66774/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA087

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over during the landing roll.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - soft
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The private pilot related that he was landing on  a remote, off-airport, up sloping ridge.  During the landing, the tailwheel touched first, in soft terrain, and the nose pitched down quickly, resulting in the airplane nosing over, and substantial damage to the wings and rudder.  The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have selected a different landing site.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot related that he was landing on  a remote, off-airport, up sloping ridge.  During the landing, the tailwheel touched first, in soft terrain, and the nose pitched down quickly, resulting in the airplane nosing over, and substantial damage to the wings and rudder.  The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have selected a different landing site.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N717E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N717E), registered now, S/N 23071C, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M7
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-235B](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235b) (registry code 5460109) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23071C
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank P. Ramsey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Bettles, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 400 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20070817016399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070817016399A), Aug 17, 2007: Maule M7235B, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The airman stated that upon landing off-airport the tailwheel sank into a soft spot approximately 1 foot below grade. The aircraft continued moving…

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.

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