# NTSB ERA23LA160: Maule M-7-235C, N79VE, Abbeville, SC, March 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 20, 2023, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Abbeville, SC · On airport - Coordinates: 34.151078, -82.354537 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1511&lon=-82.3545&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA160 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot flying could not be determined since both pilots claimed that the other was at the controls during the landing. The flight instructor demonstrated poor judgement in accepting the training flight without prior experience in the airplane make and model. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 M-7-235C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460110), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner of the newly-acquired tailwheel airplane reported that he hired a flight instructor to help him gain proficiency landing on short, narrow runways. He admitted that he was not proficient in this area, although he was current in tailwheel airplanes. He set up for landing on runway 8 with a left crosswind prevailing. He stated that he “arrived too high for the runway.” He stated that the flight instructor did not want him to go around, so the instructor took the controls to demonstrate a slip to lose altitude. The pilot/owner stated that the flight instructor entered a ground loop to the left after touchdown, damaging the airplane. The flight instructor provided a contrary account of the accident sequence. He reported that the pilot/owner had a bad habit of flying with his feet high on the rudder pedals, and he provided guidance prior to the flight to avoid this. Following airwork and takeoff/landing practice at another airport, the pilot attempted a landing at his home airport, which was 2,250 ft long and 40 ft wide. He reported that the pilot/owner, who was at the controls the entire time, overcontrolled the left rudder at 1 ft above the ground during landing, and this occurred so quickly that he was unable to intervene. The right wing contacted the runway, the right main landing gear separated, and the airplane skidded to a stop. A shutdown and egress were then performed. The pilot/owner reported that there was substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. He also reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and the flight instructor did not report any mechanical anomalies in his written statement. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the flight instructor had no experience in the aircraft make and model prior to the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79VE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79VE), registered now, S/N 25118C, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235c) (registry code 5460110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-B4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b4b5) (registry code 42340, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25118C - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2023, 15 hours before - Departed: GRD, Greenwood, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SC81, Abbeville Airport, runway 8, 2,250 × 39 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 849 total, 11 in this make and model, 748 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,025 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KGRD, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KGRD 201956Z AUTO 02009KT 10SM CLR 12/M09 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP264 T01171089 ## 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 20230320006779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230320006779A), Mar 20, 2023: Maule M-7-235C, Abbeville, SC, Substantial damage. This was a training flight for familiarization with the Maule. Pilot stated that he and ip flew the left pattern for runway 08 and were too high. The aircraft… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106942. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15337117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CFI statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15337841&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Leo%20Berube%20Stmt%20033123_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Tailwheel training plan of action provided by CFI (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15337374&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Seldon%20Morgan%20Plan%20of%20Action-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - request for CFI flight experience information (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15625437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20MOR%20-%20Request%20for%20CFI%20Flight%20Experience%20Information-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - conversation with FAA inspector (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15337303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20MOR%20Clamp-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15625580&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2a%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15337731&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.