# NTSB DEN00LA173: Maule M-7-235C, N4255P, Collbran, CO, September 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 2000, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Collbran, CO - Coordinates: 39.230022, -107.950202 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2300&lon=-107.9502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA173 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare and roll. Factors were the tree and fences. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot made two low passes over the east-west runway, one in each direction. The third pass was made to the east at an approach speed of 65 mph, using 40 degrees of flaps. The airplane stalled 4 to 6 feet above, and 100 to 200 feet down, the 900-foot long runway. The airplane contacted the left side of the runway in a 3-point attitude. The left main gear went through tall grass and into a small ditch. Full power was applied to abort the landing. The pilot turned the airplane 40 degrees to the right in an attempt to avoid a juniper tree at the end of the runway, but the left wing struck its branches, damaging the outer one-third of the wing leading edge. The airplane went through a barbed wire fence, across a gravel road, then went through another barbed wire fence before coming to a halt in a field. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2000, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-7-235C, N4255P, registered to Colorado Pathology Services, Inc., was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at a private airstrip at Collbran, Colorado. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Grand Junction, Colorado, at 0830. According to the pilot's accident report, he made two low passes over the east-west runway, one in each direction. The third pass was made to the east at an approach speed of 65 mph, using 40 degrees of flaps. The airplane stalled 4 to 6 feet above, and 100 to 200 feet down, the 900-foot long runway. The airplane contacted the left side of the runway in a 3-point attitude. The left main gear went through tall grass and into a small ditch. Full power was applied in an attempt to abort the landing. The pilot turned the airplane 40 degrees to the right to avoid a juniper tree at the end of the runway, but the left wing struck its branches, damaging the outer one-third of the wing leading edge. The airplane went through a barbed wire fence, across a gravel road, then went through another barbed wire fence before coming to a halt in a field. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4255P (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25026C - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Colorado Pathology Svc, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1999 - Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 900 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,867 total, 293 in this make and model, 1,806 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 31 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). - [Incident 20000916030189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000916030189I), Sep 16, 2000: Maule M7235C, Collbran, CO, Minor damage. (-23)The aircraft was being landed on a Private grass strip. The grass strip had approximately 900 feet of usable runway and an elevation of 6,500 feet. Winds… 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.