# NTSB CEN23LA029: Maule M7-235B, N190Y, Topeka, KS, November 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 2, 2022, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Topeka, KS - Coordinates: 39.068889, -95.6225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0689&lon=-95.6225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 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): 106263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106263/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106263 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA029 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing with strong gusty surface winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 M-7-235B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during touchdown, the “nose pitched up” and caused the right wing to stall. The airplane fell and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 18 with winds directly down the runway at 14 knots, gusting to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N190Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N190Y), registered now, S/N 23085C, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M7-235B - 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: 23085C - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 998 - Engines: Lycoming 0-540-B4-B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 2022 - Departed: KNQA, Millington, TN - Destination: KTOP, Topeka, KS - Airport: KTOP, Topeka Philip Airport, runway 18, 4,331 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; airline transport, military, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 26,238 total, 3 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 14 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - METAR: KTOP 022053Z 18014G25KT 10SM CLR 25/09 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 18028/2042 SLP151 T02500094 56029 KTOP 022153Z 17016G28KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 15028/2151 SLP150 T02440100 ## 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 20221102018019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221102018019A), Nov 2, 2022: Maule M-7-235B, Topeka, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he was landing in gusty surface wind conditions. Upon flaring to land, a gust of wind caught the aircraft and caused the aircraft's nose to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106263. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14886989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 941 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14889694&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.