- Date
- May 17, 2007, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- St Petersburg, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1044MMaule MXT-7-180A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070517008599A
- Case key
- 65810
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper climb rate to clear an obstacle after aborting the landing. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which prompted the aborted landing, and a wind gust.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During landing, the Maule MXT-7-180A skipped, and then touched down on the runway centerline. The pilot reported that "as soon as all three wheels hit the ground," a wind gust pushed the aircraft "all the way over" to the right side of the runway, and he perceived that the "right wing was going to hit the grass," so he aborted the landing. With "about 55 knots" of airspeed, the pilot added "full throttle and rotated." A witness observed the airplane flying at an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet off the right side of the runway in a nose high attitude, when it "mushed" back onto the ground. The airplane impacted and was stopped by large concrete blocks associated with a seawall. A postcrash fire immediately ensued. Since the pilot's door was blocked by fire and obstructions, the pilot and passenger exited via the passenger's door. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported approximately 372 hours of total flight experience, 43 hours of which were in make and model.
Factual narrative
During landing, the Maule MXT-7-180A skipped, and then touched down on the runway centerline. The pilot reported that "as soon as all three wheels hit the ground," a wind gust pushed the aircraft "all the way over" to the right side of the runway, and he perceived that the "right wing was going to hit the grass," so he aborted the landing. With "about 55 knots" of airspeed, the pilot added "full throttle and rotated." A witness observed the airplane flying at an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet off the right side of the runway in a nose high attitude, when it "mushed" back onto the ground. The airplane impacted and was stopped by large concrete blocks associated with a seawall. A postcrash fire immediately ensued. Since the pilot's door was blocked by fire and obstructions, the pilot and passenger exited via the passenger's door. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported approximately 372 hours of total flight experience, 43 hours of which were in make and model.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1044M
- Reported as
- Maule MXT-7-180A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21007C
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C4F, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006
- Departed
- X51 · Homestead, FL
- Destination
- SPG · St Petersburg, FL
- Airport
- SPG · Albert Whitted, runway 36, 2,864 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2005
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 372 total · 43 in this make and model · 313 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- SPG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.