# NTSB CEN10CA452: Maule MX-7-180A, N17MX, Pittsfield, IL, July 30, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2010, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Pittsfield, IL - Coordinates: 39.638889, -90.778335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6389&lon=-90.7783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA452 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76814/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76814 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA452 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during a precautionary off-field landing that he performed after encountering deteriorating weather conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 190 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-instrument-rated pilot was on a cross-country flight when he encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot was receiving flight following from air traffic control and, after discussing the weather conditions, he advised the controller that he was going to divert to a nearby airport. While en route to the airport, the airplane encountered increasingly lower cloud ceilings and the pilot elected to perform a precautionary off-field landing onto a county road. During the landing rollout the right main landing gear departed the road and the airplane subsequently impacted a ditch alongside the road. The primary fuselage structure and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. A nearby airport weather observation station reported scattered clouds between 700 and 1,500 feet, an overcast ceiling at 2,100 feet, and a 5-mile ground visibility with drizzle. ## Factual narrative The non-instrument rated pilot was on a cross-country flight when he encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot was receiving flight following from air traffic control, and after discussing the weather conditions he told the controller that he was going to divert to a nearby airport. While en route to the airport, the airplane encountered increasingly lower cloud ceilings and the pilot elected to perform a precautionary off-field landing onto a county road. During the landing rollout the right main landing gear departed the road and the airplane subsequently impacted a ditch alongside the road. The fuselage primary structure and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. A nearby airport weather observation station reported scattered clouds between 700 and 1,500 feet, an overcast ceiling at 2,100 feet, and a 5 mile ground visibility with drizzle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17MX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17MX), registered now, S/N 20043C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule MX-7-180A - Registry model: [Maule MX-7-180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-180a) (registry code 5460186) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20043C - Airframe hours: 1821.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2010 - Departed: KDDC, Dodge City, KS - Destination: KSPI, Springfield, IL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 391 total, 180 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KPPQ ## 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 20100730043209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100730043209A), Jul 30, 2010: Maule MX-7-180A, Pleasant Hill, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot of N17MX, a Maule aircraft was enroute to spi when the weather conditions deteoriated near the west central town of pittsfield, Illinois. The private… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76814. 526 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.