# NTSB CEN20CA308: Maule MXT7, N772TW, Hillsboro, IL, July 26, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2020, 19:31 local (Jul 26, 2020, 00:31 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, IL - Coordinates: 39.2425, -89.550834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2425&lon=-89.5508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101676 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101676/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101676 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA308 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while attempting to avoid a deer during landing, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5460187), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a visual approach to land at a grass airstrip with tall crops adjacent to the runway. As he was landing a deer jumped out of the crops onto the runway. The pilot pulled the nose up to avoid hitting the deer and the airplane stalled. The airplane hit the ground and "flipped" two times, substantially damaging the tail, wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N772TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N772TW), registered now, S/N 21075C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MXT7 (180A) - Registry model: [Maule MXT-7-180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mxt-7-180a) (registry code 5460187) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21075C - Airframe hours: 983 - Engines: Lycoming 360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2020 - Departed: 1LL5, Hillsboro, IL - Destination: 1LL5, Hillsboro, IL - Airport: 1LL5, Justison Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; last flight review January 7, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 335 total, 24 in this make and model, 311 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: 3LF, 8 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101676. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10079634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%20N772TW_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10079540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.