# NTSB GAA19CA343: Maule MX7, N61339, Soldatna, AK, June 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 11, 2019, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Soldatna, AK - Coordinates: 60.320278, -150.597229 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3203&lon=-150.5972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99640/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99640 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA343 ## Probable cause The pilot’s attempt to land on water in an airplane that was not equipped with floats. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460186), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying an airplane equipped with tundra tires. He reported that, while landing the airplane on water, he realized that he "was still on [the] wheels"; it was not equipped with floats. Water entered the flight deck, the pilot egressed, and the airplane sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with tundra tires reported that, he made an approach to the lake. He flew the approach, and landed the airplane in the water, "Only then did I realize that I was still on wheels." Water entered the flight deck and the airplane sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61339](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61339), registered now, S/N 20013C (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20013C - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 796.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2019 - Departed: L85, Soldatna, AK - Destination: L85, Soldatna, AK - Airport: L85, Mackeys Lakes, runway S, 3,000 × 1,000 ft, water - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PASX, 4 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 20190611006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190611006649A), Jun 11, 2019: Maule MX-7-180A, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. On June 11, 2019 at 1115 AKDT, N61339,a Maule MX-7-180A, received substantial damage to the windscreen, cowl, and lower right fuselage when the pilot attempted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99640. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.