# NTSB CHI94LA347: Maule MX-7-235, N6119Q, Washburn, ND, September 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1994, 20:15 local (Sep 25, 1994, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Washburn, ND - Coordinates: 47.289108, -101.019493 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2891&lon=-101.0195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9698 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9698/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA347 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the landing flare. Factors associated with the accident were the poorly planned approach and the soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS A 30-40 FOOT HIGH POLE JUST SOUTH OF THE APPROACH END OF THE EAST-WEST FIELD. IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE WIRES ATTACHED TO THE POLE, HE MADE HIS APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST AND HAD TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TO LINE UP WITH THE FIELD JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. HE STATED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE GEAR SUNK INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1994, at 2015 central daylight time (cdt), a Maule MX-7-235, N6119Q, registered to Stanley D. Reiswig, nosed over while landing on a private field in Washburn, North Dakota, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Turtle Lake, North Dakota, on September 24, 1994. The pilot stated he was landing on a newly harvested farm field when the accident occurred. He stated he intended to land to the east and noticed there was a "30-40 foot pole with some type of TV-like antennae" just south of the approach end of the field. He stated he was concerned there may have been "guy wires" connected to the pole. He made several fly-bys to try and determine if there were in fact wires without seeing any. He stated that in order to stay as far away from any possible guy wires, he decided not to make a straight-in approach but rather he approached the field from the northwest. He reported, "Just as I came close to my touchdown area I had to make a slight correction in my path to the left. Just a few feet off the ground I lost airspeed and couldn't flare or have time for power and my touchdown was a little harder than usual." He stated that on touchdown the left main gear dug into the soft terrain and the airplane slowly nosed over. The pilot had three recommendations which could have prevented the accident. They were, (1) greater speed on landing approach, (2) no turning just prior to flare, and (3) different approach to area, ie: opposite direction since there was no wind direction difference. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6119Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MAULE MX-7-235 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4051C - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley D. Reiswig - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 91N, TURTLE LAKE, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIS, 37 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 19940924030669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940924030669A), Sep 24, 1994: Maule MX7235, Washburn, ND, Substantial damage. Distabilized approach avoid obstruction off end of strip. Landed HA4RD. Left gear dug in. Flipped over. 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.