# NTSB CEN22LA243: Maule MT-7-235, N235MG, Flasher, ND, June 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2022, 14:02 local (19:02 UTC) - Place: Flasher, ND - Coordinates: 46.4561, -101.2326 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4561&lon=-101.2326&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105245/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105245 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA243 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during a takeoff from a narrow gravel road, resulting in a collision with a fixed obstacle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MT-7-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=5460175), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MT-7-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5460175), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule MT-7-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460175), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was taking off from a 14-ft-wide gravel road. He started a “fast taxi” to clear a road sign on the left side of the road. During the fast taxi, the pilot thought that the airplane “got a gust of wind” and became airborne. The pilot added full throttle and the left wing struck the road sign. The airplane veered to the left onto grass and came to rest upright in the adjacent field. The left and right wings and the forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N235MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N235MG-2025-08-18), registration cancelled 2025-08-18, S/N 18038C, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MT-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MT-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mt-7-235) (registry code 5460175) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18038C - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 798 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Olson Ole - Registered owner: Olson Ole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 500 total, 500 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KY19, 23 nm away - METAR: KY19 081855Z AUTO 04005KT 10SM FEW060 FEW110 20/08 A3005 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220608010529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220608010529A), Jun 8, 2022: Maule MT-7-235, Flasher, ND, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted takeoff from a gravel road. The aircraft left wing struck a street sign 75 yards from the departure point. The pilot lost control of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105245. 1.4 MB in all. - Memorandum for the record pilot report summary CEN22LA243 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15057609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Report%20Summary%20CEN22LA243_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record field examination findings CEN22LA243 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15057696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Field%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN22LA243_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN22LA243 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15058158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA243-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.