# NTSB SEA04LA118: Maule M-7-235C, N1936P, Miles City, MT, June 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2004, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Miles City, MT - Coordinates: 46.416667, -105.004997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4167&lon=-105.0050&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 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59531/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll resulting in a main landing gear collapse. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - collapsed - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 30, the aircraft started to veer to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action with right rudder control however, he felt a vibration in the tailwheel like it was "skidding" as the aircraft continued to the left. The right main tire came loose from the rim and the left main landing gear failed at the fuselage attached points. During these actions, both wing tips contacted the runway surface. The aircraft came to rest with the left wing on the runway surface. Wing skin wrinkles were noted on the upper surface, and a rivet seam line was pulled apart on the lower surface. The left side step was pushed up into the floor board area, and the occupant seat structure was damaged. The right side wing tip was damaged as well as the outboard aileron tip. Inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that the left side main wheel was flat with a small puncture hole noted on the outer rim. The right side main tire was also flat and the rim was damaged from side loading contact with the runway surface. The tailwheel was intact and free to rotate. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2004, about 1045 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-7-235C, N1936P, registered to Dark Farm Inc. and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost directional control during the landing roll at Frank Wiley Field, Miles City, Montana, which resulted in the left main landing gear failure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Pierre, South Dakota, earlier that day. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 30, the aircraft started to veer to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action with right rudder control however, he felt a vibration in the tailwheel like it was "skidding" as the aircraft continued to the left. The right main tire came loose from the rim and the left main landing gear failed at the fuselage attached points. During these actions, both wing tips contacted the runway surface. The aircraft came to rest with the left wing on the runway surface. Wing skin wrinkles were noted on the upper surface, and a rivet seam line was pulled apart on the lower surface. The left side step was pushed up into the floor board area, and the occupant seat structure was damaged. The right side wing tip was damaged as well as the outboard aileron tip. Inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Helena, Montana, Flight Standards District Office, reported that the left side main wheel was flat with a small puncture hole noted on the outer rim. The right side main tire was also flat and the rim was damaged from side loading contact with the runway surface. The tailwheel was intact and free to rotate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1936P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1936P), registered now, S/N 25008C, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235c) (registry code 5460110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25008C - Airframe hours: 154 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walter Bowman - Registered owner: Dark Farm Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 11 hours before - Departed: PIR, Pierre, SD - Destination: MLS, Miles City, MT - Airport: MLS, Frank Wiley Field, runway 30, 5,624 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 23, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 4,070 total, 101 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: MLS ## 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 20040625012459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040625012459A), Jun 25, 2004: Maule M7235C, Miles City, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot states aircraft veered to the left upon landing and was resistant to corrective inputs. 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.