# NTSB DEN01LA001: Maule M-7-235B, N31078, Ogden, UT, October 1, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2000, 16:27 local (22:27 UTC) - Place: Ogden, UT - Coordinates: 41.149333, -111.980186 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1493&lon=-111.9802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50395/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing flare/touchdown. A factor was the tail wheel failure due to overload. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,tailwheel - overload (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent ## Analysis The pilot said that during the landing, the tail wheel 'failed.' The airplane then ground looped and departed the right side of the runway. The pilot was asked why the tail wheel failed, but he did not respond to inquiries. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, he saw no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. He said it appeared that the pilot had made a hard landing, and that the tail wheel failed as a result of overload forces. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2000, at approximately 1627 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-7-235B, N31078, registered to and operated by Chase and Baxter Investments, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Ogden-Hinckley Airport, Ogden, Utah. The airline transport certificated pilot and his three passengers 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 Elko, Nevada, at approximately 1500. According to the pilot's accident report, the airplane landed on runway 25. During the landing roll, the tail wheel "failed." The airplane then ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, tipping on its left side and collapsing the left main landing gear. The left wing spar was also damaged. The pilot was asked to explain why the tail wheel failed. He did not respond to the request. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, he saw no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. He said it appeared that the pilot had made a hard landing, and that the tail wheel had failed as a result of overload forces. The pilot was also asked for the seating arrangement He indicated his son-in-law occupied the left front seat. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31078](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31078), registered now, S/N 23004C, built 1995 (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 IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23004C - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chase And Baxter Investments - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2000, 80 hours before - Departed: EKO, ELKO, NV - Destination: OGD - Airport: OGD, Ogden-Hinckley, runway 25, 5,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 15,550 total, 550 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OGD ## 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 20001001015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001001015869A), Oct 1, 2000: Maule M7235B, Ogden, UT, No damage. (-23)On 10-1-00 pilot larry baxter looped his airplane during the landing at Ogden-hinkley airport runway 21. The weather at the time of the accident was clear… 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.