# NTSB ERA10CA227: Maule MX7, N897DC, Greenville, NC, April 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 11, 2010, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Greenville, NC - Coordinates: 35.634445, -77.384445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6344&lon=-77.3844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA227 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that he made a three-point landing on the asphalt runway. After touchdown, the airplane began to pull to the right and the pilot corrected by applying left rudder. The airplane immediately turned "hard left,” collapsing the right main landing gear. The right wing impacted the runway and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot had received a tailwheel endorsement the day prior to the accident, and reported 5 hours of flight time in the accident airplane. He also stated to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had received limited exposure to operating the tailwheel-equipped airplane on hard-surface runways, as his tailwheel flight instruction was conducted mostly from turf runways. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that he made a "three-point" landing on the asphalt runway. After touchdown, the airplane began to "pull" to the right, and the pilot corrected by applying left rudder. "Within a split second," the airplane turned "hard left,” collapsing the right main landing gear. The right wing impacted the runway and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot had received a tailwheel endorsement the day prior to the accident, and reported 5 hours of flight time in the accident airplane. He also stated to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had received limited exposure to operating the tailwheel-equipped airplane on hard-surface runways, as his tailwheel flight instruction was conducted mostly from turf runways. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N897DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N897DC), registered now, S/N 20012C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MX7 (180A) - Registry model: [Maule MX-7-180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-180a) (registry code 5460186) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20012C - Airframe hours: 2877 - Engines: LYCOMING O360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew M. Soddy - Registered owner: Matthew M. Soddy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2010 - Departed: NC47, Winterville, NC - Destination: PGV, Greenville, NC - Airport: PGV, Pitt-Greenville, runway 02, 6,505 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 205 total, 5 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: PGV ## 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 20100411031499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100411031499A), Apr 11, 2010: Maule MX-7-180A, Greenville, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot had received his tail wheel endorsement the day before the accident and admitted he had received limited exposure to hard surface runways. The next… ## Other investigations on N897DC (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN20CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA388), Sep 7, 2020: Maule MX7 (N897DC), Brazoria, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around from unsuitable terrain. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75752. 396 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.