# NTSB DFW06CA138: Maule MX-7-180B, N31875, Melbourne, AR, May 23, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2006, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, AR
- Coordinates: 36.0691666666667, -91.8247222222222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0692&lon=-91.8247&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63761/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA138

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing resulting in a ground loop.  A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.

## 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)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

While on a 452-mile personal cross-country flight, the 2,800-hour student pilot experienced a problem with the airplane's navigation system and became lost.  In order to determine his location and to further examine the navigational system, the pilot selected an airport and elected to land his newly purchased single-engine airplane.  During the landing rollout, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane and the airplane exited the left side of the 4,002-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway.  The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to egress the cockpit unassisted.  No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane's flight controls.  The pilot reported having accumulated 100 hours in the same make and model.  The pilot further reported that the wind at the time of the accident was a "dead crosswind" at 12 knots gusting to 20 knots.

## Factual narrative

While on a 452-mile personal cross-country flight, the 2,800-hour student pilot experienced a problem with the airplane's navigation system and became lost.  In order to determine his location and to further examine the navigational system, the pilot selected an airport and elected to land his newly purchased single-engine airplane.  During the landing rollout, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane and the airplane exited the left side of the 4,002-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway.  The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to egress the cockpit unassisted.  No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane's flight controls.  The pilot reported having accumulated 100 hours in the same make and model.  The pilot further reported that the wind at the time of the accident was a "dead crosswind" at 12 knots gusting to 20 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31875](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31875), registered now, S/N 22008C, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule MX-7-180B
- Registry model: [Maule MX-7-180B](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-180b) (registry code 5460188) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22008C
- Airframe hours: 357
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: A. Gregory Babykin Jr.
- Registered owner: Herbert J Reynolds
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PLK, POINT LOOKOUT, MO
- Destination: 47A, CANTON, GA
- Airport: 42A, Melbourne Municipal Arpt, runway 21, 4,002 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,800 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 12 knots, gusting 20

## 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 20060523010549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060523010549A), May 23, 2006: Maule MX7180B, Melbourne, AR, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot's statement: I departed kplk at approximately 15:20 hours local time (ctz) heading of 102. Picked up and id'd arg VOR 114.5. Maintained VOR flight…

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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