# NTSB SEA97LA021: Maule M-7-235, N5664Y, Laramie, WY, October 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 1996, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Laramie, WY - Coordinates: 41.310916, -105.57904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3109&lon=-105.5790&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA021 ## Probable cause VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), his misjudged speed/distance on final approach for landing, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing. Factors relating to the accident include snow, low ceilings, obscured visibility, and a fence and ditch off the end of the runway. ## Analysis During a flight from Laramie, WY, to Boulder, CO, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather and reversed course. After the pilot arrived back at his private airstrip, he found snow, low ceilings, and obscured visibility. He elected to land in what he estimated was about one-quarter mile visibility, but was fast on final approach and landed long. He was unable to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway, and after it departed the airstrip, it went through a fence, then it nosed over as it rolled through a ditch. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 1996 at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-7-235, N5664Y, collided with a fence and nosed over while rolling through a ditch after running off the end of a private airstrip near Laramie, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the intended destination of Boulder, Colorado. There was not report of an ELT activation. The pilot reported that he had attempted to fly to Boulder, Colorado, in order to deliver his aircraft to a mechanic who was planning on completing an annual inspection. He turned back because the weather deteriorated, but upon arriving back at Laramie found the weather had deteriorated there also. While trying to land in snow, low ceilings, and obscured visibility, the pilot came in with excessive airspeed and touched down long. The pilot stated that he was unable to stop the airplane before it ran off the end of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft collided with a fence, and nosed over as it rolled through a ditch. The pilot later reported that he estimated the visibility to be about one-quarter mile at the time of the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5664Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5664Y), registered now, S/N 4033C (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L24008-40A - Airframe hours: 896 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Samuel M. Evans - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1993, 133 hours before - Destination: 1V5, BOULDER, CO - Airport: Evans (Private), runway 30, 3,600 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 10 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Temperature: 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19961025033899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961025033899A), Oct 25, 1996: Maule M7235, Laramie, WY, Substantial damage. Returned to base due snow and low ceiling. Landed long high speed. Ran off end thru fence into a ditch. Nosed over. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.