# NTSB GAA17CA252: Maule MX7, N3035M, Floydada, TX, April 30, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 30, 2017, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Floydada, TX - Coordinates: 34.001667, -101.330276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0017&lon=-101.3303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to fly into and land at an area of known widespread high gusting wind, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [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) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Standing: 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) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was moving the airplane across the country for a friend and had multiple refueling stops along his route. He added that, on his first attempt to land on the asphalt runway, he conducted a go-around due to the strong crosswind, and during the subsequent approach, he landed in the grass next to the asphalt runway to touch down with a gusting headwind. Once stopped in the grass with the engine running, he radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency to ask for assistance to tie down the airplane, but after 5 to 10 minutes, no one had responded. He added, "suddenly" a wind gust lifted the left wing, and the airplane corkscrewed clockwise and nosed over. The right and left wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 330° at 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots at the time of the accident. An automated weather observation station (AWOS), 22 nautical miles (nm) northwest from the accident site, recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 42 knots. Another AWOS, 32 nm southwest from the accident site, recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 43 knots. A review of the recorded hourly weather observations from the two AWOSs revealed that, from about 30 minutes before the pilot departed to 1 hour after the accident time, the wind remained consistent from the northwest about 30 knots, gusting to 38 to 46 knots. The pilot reported that he had on-board weather capability. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was moving the airplane across the country for a friend and had multiple refueling stops along his route. He added that on his first attempt to land on the asphalt runway, he did a go-around due to the strong crosswind, and during the subsequent approach, he landed in the grass next to the asphalt runway in order to touchdown with a gusting headwind. Once stopped in the grass with the engine running, he radioed over the common traffic advisory frequency to ask for assistance to tie down the airplane, but after 5 to 10 minutes no one had responded. He added, "suddenly" a wind gust lifted the left wing and the airplane corkscrewed clockwise and nosed over. The right and left wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was 330° at 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots at the time of the accident. An automated weather observation station (AWOS), 22 nautical miles (NM) northwest from the accident site, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 42 knots. An additional AWOS, 32 NM southwest from the accident site, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 320° at 29 knots, gusting to 43 knots. A review of the recorded hourly weather observations at the aforementioned AWOS's, revealed that about 30 minutes before the pilot departed and one hour after the accident time, wind remained consistent from the northwest about 30 knots, gusting to 38 – 46 knots. The pilot reported that he had on-board weather capability. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3035M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3035M-2018-09-20), registration cancelled 2018-09-20, S/N 20004C (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: 20004C - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 1919.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2017 - Departed: GYI, SHERMAN/DENISON, TX - Destination: 41F, Floydada, TX - Airport: 41F, Floydada Muni - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,760 total, 5,740 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 29 knots, gusting 42 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KPVW, 22 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 20170430020949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170430020949A), Apr 30, 2017: Maule MX-7-180A, Floydada, TX, Substantial damage. On April 30, 2017, at 1230 CDT, N3035M, a Maule MX-7-180A registered to a private owner, encountered strong surface winds during taxi after landing and flipped… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95087. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Hourly Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Hourly%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Operator) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.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.