# NTSB MIA04LA126: Maule MX-7-235, N660HB, Greenville, FL, September 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2004, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Greenville, FL - Coordinates: 30.601388, -83.629447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6014&lon=-83.6294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60134/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation to ensure an adequate fuel supply is a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the airplane due to Hurricane Francis. He visually checked the fuel tanks before the flight departed and noted the level in both was within 3 inches from the top. The flight departed, and initially climbed to 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl), then later climbed to 1,500 feet msl. When the flight was near Monticello, Florida, the engine sputtered and he maneuvered the airplane towards a nearby lake. He turned base and final for landing on the lake and with 40 degrees of flaps selected, the airplane cleared tall trees near the lake. After clearing the trees he pushed the yoke forward to descend, which caused the airplane to accelerate. He landed on the water but ran out of room and the left wing collided with a submerged cypress tree. He later stated the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. According to a mechanic who helped recover the airplane, both fuel tanks were drained and a total of approximately 1.5 gallons of fuel were recovered. The mechanic further reported that the total unusable fuel capacity for each fuel tank is 1.5 gallons. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2004, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Maule MX-7-235, N660HB, registered to Key Largo Seaplane Service, LLC, collided with a tree during a forced landing on Lake Shehee, near Greenville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Prairie Lake Private Residential Seaplane Mooring Facility, Altamonte Springs, Florida, to a lake located near Spence Airport, Moultrie, Georgia. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1030, from the Prairie Lake Private Residential Seaplane Mooring Facility. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the airplane due to Hurricane Francis. He visually checked the fuel tanks before the flight departed and noted the level in both was within 3 inches from the top. The flight departed, and initially climbed to 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl), then later climbed to 1,500 feet msl. When the flight was near Monticello, Florida, the engine sputtered and he maneuvered the airplane towards a nearby lake. He turned base and final for landing on the lake and with 40 degrees of flaps selected, the airplane cleared tall trees near the lake. After clearing the trees he pushed the yoke forward to descend, which caused the airplane to accelerate. He landed on the water but ran out of room and the left wing collided with a submerged cypress tree. He later stated the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. According to a mechanic who helped recover the airplane, both fuel tanks were drained and a total of approximately 1.5 gallons of fuel were recovered. The mechanic further reported that the total unusable fuel capacity for each fuel tank is 1.5 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N660HB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N660HB), registered now, S/N 10065C, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule MX-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MX-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-235) (registry code 5470207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10065C - Airframe hours: 747.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stephen D. Rathert - Registered owner: Key Largo Seaplane Service, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2004 - Departed: 3FD9, Altamonte Spgs, FL - Destination: KMUL, Moultrie, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 369 total, 19 in this make and model, 307 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KTLH ## 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 20040903027939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040903027939A), Sep 3, 2004: Maule MX7235, Ashville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 3, 2004, at 1140 EDT, a Maule MX-7-235, N660HB, registered to bernis old seaplane company, inc., wilmington, Delaware, made an emergency… 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.