# NTSB SEA02LA020: Maule M-7-235, N61385, Halfway, OR, December 10, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 2001, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Halfway, OR
- Coordinates: 44.940799, -117.100105 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9408&lon=-117.1001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA - Boise FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53907/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA020

## Probable cause

A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.  A factor was a snow-covered landing surface.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

The pilot reported that prior to landing, he made two passes over the runway to determine the runway condition, and determined that there were less than 5 inches of snow on the landing surface.  He stated that he "made a normal soft-field landing."  He reported that the aircraft rolled approximately 200 feet, then nosed over, coming to rest inverted.  The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved.  Visual meteorological conditions with calm winds were reported by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

On December 10, 2001, approximately 1100 Pacific standard time, a Maule M-7-235 airplane, N61385, was substantially damaged in a nose-over during landing at Halfway, Oregon, on a landing surface covered with approximately 5 inches of snow.  The commercial pilot and a passenger (the passenger was the aircraft owner) were not injured in the accident.  Visual meteorological conditions with calm winds were reported by the pilot, and (according to FAA accident notification information) a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight from Boise, Idaho.

The pilot reported that prior to landing, he made two passes over the runway to determine the runway condition, and determined that there were less than 5 inches of snow.  He stated that he "made a normal soft-field landing."  He reported that the aircraft rolled approximately 200 feet, then nosed over, coming to rest inverted.  The pilot reported on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61385](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61385), registered now, S/N 4107C, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235) (registry code 5470208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4107C
- Airframe hours: 1216
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Eagle Cap Aviation
- Registered owner: Dale H. Denson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2001, 2 hours before
- Departed: BOI, Boise, ID
- Destination: Halfway, OR
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F

## 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 20011210034109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011210034109A), Dec 10, 2001: Maule M7235, Halfway, OR, No damage. (-23) Aircraft landed on snow covered runway and nosed over. Damage to vertical stabilizer and right wing strut.

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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