# NTSB LAX07CA091: Maule M-7-235B, N39KB, Prescott, AZ, February 20, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2007, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.657501, -112.421669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6575&lon=-112.4217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65322/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA091

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall/mush during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control, and an in-flight collision with terrain.  Factors associated with the accident are snow, wing contamination (snow), and an inadvertent stall.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aborted
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing,vortex generators - blocked(partial)
  - wing - contamination (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The pilot decided to abort the takeoff in the initial climb, and the airplane landed hard, collapsing the right main landing gear.  Immediately after takeoff the airplane did not feel right to the pilot, and he pulled the throttle off to abort the takeoff.  During the landing attempt the airplane stalled and landed hard, collapsing the right landing gear.  Examination of the airplane by airport management personnel immediately after the accident revealed that the wing had approximately 1/2-inch of wet snow covering 2/3 of the upper surface of the wing, including the vortex generators.  The pilot stated that during his preflight he had only cleared some of the snow from around the vortex generators.

## Factual narrative

The pilot decided to abort the takeoff in the initial climb, and the airplane landed hard, collapsing the right main landing gear.  Immediately after takeoff the airplane did not feel right to the pilot, and he pulled the throttle off to abort the takeoff.  During the landing attempt the airplane stalled and landed hard, collapsing the right landing gear.  Examination of the airplane by airport management personnel immediately after the accident revealed that the wing had approximately 1/2-inch of wet snow covering 2/3 of the upper surface of the wing, including the vortex generators.  The pilot stated that during his preflight he had only cleared some of the snow from around the vortex generators.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39KB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39KB-2008-01-10), registration cancelled 2008-01-10, S/N 23082C, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235B
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-235B](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235b) (registry code 5460109) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23082C
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hancock Farms
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KPRC, Prescott, AK
- Destination: KA09, Mojave Valley, AZ
- Airport: KPRC, Prescott, runway 21R, 4,846 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 20,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KPRC

## 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 20070220003799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070220003799A), Feb 20, 2007: Maule M7235B, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that the aircraft was covered with snow, he brushed the snow from the leading edge of the aircraft and the fuselage. He figured the rest of…

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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