# NTSB DEN06CA027: Maule M-7-235, N75VX, Moriarty, NM, December 26, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 26, 2005, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Moriarty, NM
- Coordinates: 34.985553, -106.000831
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9856&lon=-106.0008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62997/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA027

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing factors included the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision making and the high velocity, gusty winds.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

According to the pilot he was attempting to land on runway 26. During the landing roll a gust of wind looped the airplane to the right. The pilot added power and attempted a go-around. The left wing struck an embankment and the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. The winds were recorded as 290 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 32 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was attempting to land on runway 26. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and the airplane began to loop to the right. The pilot added power and attempted a go-around. The left wing struck an embankment and the airplane nosed over and came to rest to the right of the runway. The firewall was wrinkled, both wings were bent down, the tip of the rudder was crushed and the outboard leading edge of the left wing tip was crushed aft. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

According to the Clines Corner Remote Communications Outlet, located 17 nautical miles east of Moriarty, New Mexico, the winds were recorded as 290 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 32 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75VX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75VX), registered now, S/N 4021C, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235
- 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: 4021C
- Airframe hours: 1589
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-WIA5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005, 8 hours before
- Departed: 0E0, Moriarty, NM
- Destination: 0E0, Moriarty, NM
- Airport: 0E0, Moriarty Airport, runway 26, 7,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 649 total, 126 in this make and model, 456 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 25 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: CQC, 17 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 20051226029609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051226029609A), Dec 26, 2005: Maule M7235, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 26, 2005, at 1130 MST, a Maule M7-235-B, N75VX, registered to and operated by the pilot, ground looped during landing and came to rest…

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.

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