# NTSB MIA01LA025: Maule MX-7-180A, N3079Z, St. Marys, GA, November 4, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2000, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: St. Marys, GA - Coordinates: 30.757778, -81.562225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7578&lon=-81.5622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 50602 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50602/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a sideward skid, a collapsed main landing gear strut, and wing strike. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis According to the pilot's statement, while conducting stop and go landings, his third attempt resulted in the right wing being lifted by wind gusts, and by the time he had put in control pressures to maintain directional control on the runway, the gusts abated. The result was a right sideward skid that collapsed the right main landing gear, causing the right wing tip and propeller to strike the runway. There were no injuries, however the wing spar sustained bending. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2000, about 1145 eastern standard time, a Maule MX-7-180A, N3079Z, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained a collapsed main landing gear during landing at St. Mary’s Airport, St. Mary’s, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the same airport about 15 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, he was conducting stop and go landings on St. Mary’s runway 22 when a gust of wind lifted the right wingtip during his third landing flare. The pilot's corrective action on the controls took effect about the time the wind gust abated, and a right sideward skid developed. The skid caused the right main landing gear strut to collapse, resulting in a ground strike of the right wingtip and propeller. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot stated to him that the main factor in the accident was his loss of control of the aircraft on landing. An FAA certified mechanic confirmed that wing damage included damage to the spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3079Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3079Z), registered now, S/N 20007C, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule MX-7-180A - 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: 20007C - Airframe hours: 278 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank Reston - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: 4J6, St. Marys, GA - Airport: 4J6, St. Marys Airport, runway 22, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 27, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 116 total, 29 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: JAX, 20 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 20001104015769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001104015769A), Nov 4, 2000: Maule MX7180A, St Marys, GA, No damage. (-23) During landing, pilot lost control of a/c and ground looped the a/c. the ground loop caused the right main landing gear to collapse. 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.