- Date
- August 4, 1996, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Poseyville, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3187ZMaule MT-7-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960804021059A
- Case key
- 10340
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare during the landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the make and model of airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane touched down, and as it rolled down the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the propeller went into the ground. He said he was 'not very familiar' with the airplane and he 'didn't know the nose was so heavy.' He reported that the airplane did not bounce during the landing, and he believed the airplane was 'rolling' when the nose dropped. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported the nose was crushed at a 20 to 30 degree angle due to a 'substantial impact'. The strut was fractured near the fork. The inspector reported that 'it appears that the aircraft either bounced first, or just landed in an extremely nose down condition.' He reported no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1996, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Maule MT-7-235, N3187Z, sustained substantial damage when the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over during landing in Poseyville, Indiana. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injury. The local, personal flight originated about 1530 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he had made two landings and takeoffs. During the third landing, the airplane touched down, rolled down the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the propeller went into the ground. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was "not very familiar" with the airplane and he "didn't know the nose was so heavy." He reported that the airplane did not bounce during the landing and he believed the airplane was "rolling" when the nose dropped.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who examined the airplane reported that the nose was crushed at a 20 to 30 degree angle due to a "substantial impact". The strut was fractured near the fork. Four "prop strikes" proceeded the primary ground scar. He reported that "it appears that the aircraft either bounced first, or just landed in an extremely nose down condition." He reported no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3187Z
- Reported as
- Maule MT-7-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18022C
- Airframe hours
- 21
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ralph E. Koch
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 30, 1996 · 21 hours before
- Departed
- 92IN
- Airport
- 921N · Ralph Koch, runway 23, 1,900 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 585 total · 20 in this make and model · 453 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.