# NTSB SEA07CA104: Maule MT-7-235, N3115U, Concord, CA, April 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2007, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Concord, CA - Coordinates: 37.989723, -122.056945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9897&lon=-122.0569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 65587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65587/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a ground loop/swerve and collapse of the nose landing gear. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that the tower informed him the winds were from 250 degrees at 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. He aborted his first approach to runway 19R. On the second approach, he had "good rudder and aileron control at the 80 mph approach speed." At approximately 40 feet above ground level (agl), he encountered "a strong wind shear" and the airplane dropped to an altitude of 10 feet agl. The pilot added power and landed the airplane on the runway. At that time, a "very strong gust of wind" lifted the right wing and pushed the airplane towards the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain control, however, he was not successful, and the airplane continued to the left "into a ground loop off of the runway." The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The recorded winds at the airport near the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 24 knots with gusts to 30 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the tower informed him the winds were from 250 degrees at 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. He aborted his first approach to runway 19R. On the second approach, he had "good rudder and aileron control at the 80 mph approach speed." At approximately 40 feet above ground level (agl), he encountered "a strong wind shear" and the airplane dropped to an altitude of 10 feet agl. The pilot added power and landed the airplane on the runway. At that time, a "very strong gust of wind" lifted the right wing and pushed the airplane towards the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain control, however, he was not successful, and the airplane continued to the left "into a ground loop off of the runway." The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The recorded winds at the airport near the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 24 knots with gusts to 30 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3115U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3115U-2009-09-16), registration cancelled 2009-09-16, S/N 18008C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule MT-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MT-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mt-7-235) (registry code 5460175) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18008C - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: E16, Morgan Hill, CA - Destination: CCR, Concord, CA - Airport: CCR, Buchanan Field, runway 19R, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 142 total, 136 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 24 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: CCR ## 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 20070417013299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070417013299A), Apr 17, 2007: Maule MT7235, Concord, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was landing the aircraft on runway 19R at Concord. The pilot attempted one landing and performed a go-around and again… 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.