# NTSB WPR23LA108: Maule M-7-260C, N4045R, Lander, WY, February 7, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 7, 2023, 06:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Lander, WY · KLND Hunt Field
- Coordinates: 42.82, -108.73
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8200&lon=-108.7300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106709/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106709
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA108

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5470112), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during landing roll the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and left brake, however, the airplane continued to veer to the right. The pilot then decided to abort the landing and applied full engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted a snowbank and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right-wing struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4045R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4045R), registered now, S/N 30001C (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-260C
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-260C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260c) (registry code 5470112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30001C
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 1280
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Let Er Buck Livestock LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2023, 25 hours before
- Departed: none, Hyattville, WY
- Destination: KLND, Lander, WY
- Airport: LND, Hunt Field, runway 04, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 913 total, 78 in this make and model, 806 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 3013.00 inHg
- Observed at: KLND
- METAR: KLND 071353Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM CLR M08/M14 A3013

## 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 20230207001489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230207001489A), Feb 7, 2023: Maule M-7-260C, Lander, WY, Substantial damage. Left brake went soft on landing. Right brake grabbed and aircraft went to the right side of runway hit snowbank and flipped over.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106709. 8.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15174539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA108_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Amendment to pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15174549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_correctionfrompilot_WPR23LA108_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15173673&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA108_508-Rel.pdf

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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