# NTSB WPR23LA254: Maule MX7-180C, N3171H, Belgrade, MT, July 4, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2023, 16:02 local (22:02 UTC)
- Place: Belgrade, MT · airport environment
- Coordinates: 45.780047, -111.15131 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7800&lon=-111.1513&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 192532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192532/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192532
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA254

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

## Findings

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

- [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 MX-7-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Maule MX-7-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5470205), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane’s tail swung to the right and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane struck a runway edge cone, then exited the turf runway and nosed over. The left wing, both wing struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot said there was a 6-10 kt left quartering tailwind when he exited the airplane. He reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3171H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3171H), registered now, S/N 22045C, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE MX7-180C
- Registry model: [Maule MX-7-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-180) (registry code 5470205) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1f) (registry code 42283, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22045C
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 142.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 2023, 14 hours before
- Airport: KBZN, Bozeman Yellowstone Intl, runway 11, 2,802 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,250 total, 57 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KBZN, 1 nm away
- METAR: KBZN 042156Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 20/07 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02000072

## 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 20230704008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704008709A), Jul 4, 2023: Maule MX-7-180, Belgrade, MT, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the following: I picked up ATIS victor (which had not changed since I had departed kbzn and called for winds variable@ 3 KTS). I entered a…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192532. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15913916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA254_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15914319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA254%20photo_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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