# NTSB CEN23LA096: Maule MX-7-235, N188DL, Chickala, AR, January 26, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 26, 2023, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Chickala, AR - Coordinates: 35.215919, -93.3049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2159&lon=-93.3049&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106656/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106656 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land on the snow-covered runway and his failure to attain/maintain aircraft control during landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5470207), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5470207), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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-7-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5470207), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5470207), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5470207), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the personal flight reported that the flight was destined to his privately-owned airstrip, which was covered with approximately six inches of “very wet and dense” snow. During landing rollout, the airplane’s deceleration was typical but then decelerated faster than the pilot “could imagine.” The airplane tail rose very quickly, and the airplane then nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The pilot reported that there was no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that the accident could have been prevented by using a snow depth limit of four inches if its liquid water content is unknown, and if landing in similar conditions, to land with a little power to keep the tail down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N188DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N188DL), registered now, S/N 10026C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MX-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MX-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-235) (registry code 5470207) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10026C - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 3329.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Judah, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 2022 - Departed: HOT, Hot Springs, AR - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AR05, John Harris Field Airport, runway 36, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,400 total, 960 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: RUE, 10 nm away ## 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 20230126000399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230126000399A), Jan 26, 2023: Maule MX-7-235, Chiclala, AR, Substantial damage. On January 26, 2023 at approximately 1415 CST, [privacy data omitted] a Maule MX-7-235 [privacy data omitted] and operated by airline transport rated pilot,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106656. 10.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15119143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20N188DL%20Report%20(004)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15118239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.