# NTSB CEN23FA164: Maule MXT-7-180, N4008J, La Porte, TX, April 24, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: April 24, 2023, 08:46 local (13:46 UTC) - Place: La Porte, TX · Laporte Muni Airport T41 - Coordinates: 29.66531, -95.069296 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6653&lon=-95.0693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: 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 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 107114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23FA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107114/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107114 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA164 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for an emergency landing following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Maule MXT-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5470206), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis Just after departing from runway 5 on an aerial survey flight, the pilot announced on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency that the engine was running rough and he was returning to the airport. Another pilot flying in the airport traffic pattern reported that the accident airplane appeared too high and fast to land on runway 23; shortly thereafter, the accident pilot transmitted that the engine was producing power and that he was landing on runway 5. The witness saw the accident airplane subsequently enter a left base for runway 5 at low altitude and stated that the airplane appeared slow. The airplane overshot the runway, banked steeply, stalled, and entered a 1/2 turn spin before impacting the ground. Two other pilots who were flying in the area reported similar observations of the accident sequence, and ADS-B track data was consistent with their statements. The airplane impacted the ground and ground scars were consistent with a nose-low, right wing down attitude. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. Examinations of the airframe, engine, and fuel system did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing, which was consistent with the pilot’s announcement of a rough running engine. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for an emergency landing following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2023, about 0846 central daylight time, a Maule MXT-7-180 airplane, N4008J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near La Porte, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial survey flight. According to the operator, the pilot intended to depart from La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas, to conduct aerial inspections of pipelines in the area. An airline transport pilot who witnessed the accident was approaching from the east to enter the airport traffic pattern. He reported hearing the accident pilot state on the common traffic advisory frequency that his engine was running rough and that he was returning to the airport to land. The witness saw the accident airplane turn to the left after departing from runway 5 and the airplane appeared to be maneuvering to land on runway 23. The witness thought that the accident airplane was being pushed by a tailwind and was too high and fast to land on runway 23. He then saw the accident airplane turn to the right, climb, and heard the accident pilot announce that the engine was producing power again and the pilot was going to land on runway 5. The witness stated that the accident airplane was low on the base leg for runway 5 and appeared to be slow. The airplane appeared to overshoot runway 5, bank steeply, stalled, and spun about ½ turn before impact with the ground. The airplane impacted a slightly sloped grassy area on airport property. Two other pilot/witnesses who were flying in the traffic pattern at T41 reported similar observations of the accident sequence. ADS-B data of the airplane’s flight track was consistent with the witnesses’ observations. After emergency responders arrived at the accident site, the pilot was air lifted to a local hospital with critical head injuries. The pilot did not recall the accident sequence. The nearest weather reporting facility (EFD), located about 6 miles from the accident site, reported the temperature as 14°C and the dew point temperature as 9°C. According to the FAA’s carburetor icing probability graph, the airplane was operating within the range conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. The airplane impacted slightly sloped, wet, grass-covered terrain on a magnetic heading of about 090°. Wreckage deformations and ground scars were consistent with impact in a nose-low, right-wing-down attitude. The forward section of the cockpit was crushed upward. The engine was partially separated from its mounts and the propeller assembly was separated from the engine crankshaft consistent with impact forces. The right wing was crushed aft from its leading edge along most of its span. The left wing was bent and crushed aft along the outboard part of its leading edge. About 40 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane wreckage. Fuel samples taken from the airplane’s fuel tanks and from the airplane’s refuelingsource were found to be clear of contaminants. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces at the accident site. The wreckage was recovered and moved inside a secured hangar for detailed airframe and engine examinations. Detailed examinations of the airframe did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. Internal continuity was established throughout the engine. No mechanical anomalies with the engine, engine accessories, or carburetor were found. The fuel system was intact from the tanks to the engine with no obstructions. Clean fuel, free of contaminants and water, was found throughout the fuel system from the tanks to the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4008J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4008J-2023-10-25), registration cancelled 2023-10-25, S/N 14093C, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MXT-7-180 - Registry model: [Maule MXT-7-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mxt-7-180) (registry code 5470206) (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: 14093C - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 12249 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 2022, 552 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: T41, La Porte Muni - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; remote, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,418 total, 500 in this make and model, 267 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KEFD, 6 nm away - METAR: KEFD 241354Z 01009KT 10SM BKN070 14/09 A3008 ## 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 20230424003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230424003529A), Apr 24, 2023: Maule MXT-7-180, La Porte, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot of a Maule MXT-7-180 reported partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from runway 05 at La Porte Municipal Airport and attempted to fly a… ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107114. 64.6 MB in all. - Memorandum for the record accident site information CEN23FA164 (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18139126&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Accident%20Site%20Information%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record airframe and engine examinations CEN23FA164 (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examinations%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record maintenance logbook review CEN23FA164 (item 3, PDF, 14 pages, 51.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18150135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Maintenance%20Logbook%20Review%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Original FAA adsb data table CEN23FA164 (item 4, CSV, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18152848&FileExtension=csv&FileName=ADSB%20Data%20Table%20CEN23FA164-Rel.csv - Converted FAA adsb data table CEN23FA164 (item 5, CSV, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18156787&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Converted%20FAA%20ADSB%20Data%20Table%20CEN23FA164-Rel.csv - Adsb data plots of flight track CEN23FA164 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18157028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ADSB%20Data%20Plots%20of%20Flight%20Track%20CEN23FA164-Rel.pdf - Certificate of party representative Lycoming engines CEN23FA164 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18150125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Certificate%20of%20Party%20Representative%20Lycoming%20EnginesCEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability graph CEN23FA164 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18264451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Graph%20CEN23FA164-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB ce 09 35 carburetor icing prevention (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20SAIB%20CE%2009%2035%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Prevention-Rel.pdf - Witness statements CEN23FA164 (item 10, PDF, 3 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18139265&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs CEN23FA164 (item 11, PDF, 6 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18140256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN23FA164-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record purpose of flight CEN23FA164 (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18139445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Purpose%20of%20Flight%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record pilot recollection of accident CEN23FA164 (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138405&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Recollection%20of%20Accident%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage release CEN23FA164 (item 14, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18149720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release%20CEN23FA164_Redacted-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.