# NTSB CEN23LA132: Maule M-7-235B, N235TT, Hotchkiss, CO, March 13, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 13, 2023, 11:52 local (17:52 UTC) - Place: Hotchkiss, CO · airstrip - Coordinates: 38.70422, -107.80556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7042&lon=-107.8056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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 Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 106884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106884/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106884 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during landing rollout on a snow-covered, turf airstrip. ## 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 M-7-235B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5460109), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot planned to land at a Bureau of Land Management backcountry landing strip he had previously visited over 100 times. After completing multiple low passes to assess the snow depth and overall conditions of the landing area, he executed a soft field landing in a 3-point, full stall attitude. During the rollout, the drag from the snow was greater than expected and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane nosed over at low speed and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right-wing struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N235TT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N235TT), registered now, S/N 23031C, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-235B - 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: 23031C - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 2041 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wild Country Aircraft LLC, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Wild Country Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2023, 8 hours before - Departed: 2CO5, Austin, CO - Destination: PVT, Hotchkiss, CO - Airport: PVT, BLM Airstrip, runway 18, 1,240 × 20 ft, snow - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 632 total, 250 in this make and model, 574 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KAJZ, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KAJZ 131735Z AUTO 10004KT 10SM CLR 08/02 A3013 ## 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 20230313002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230313002119A), Mar 13, 2023: Maule M-7-235B, Hotchkiss, CO, Substantial damage. On March 13, 2023, a Maule aircraft, [privacy data omitted] on a part 91 personal flight landed on a back country blm airstrip outside of Hotchkiss, Colorado.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106884. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15254399&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN23LA132_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15255130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA132-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.