On April 26, 2001, a Maule M-7-235 (registration N126DP) was involved in an aviation accident near Summer Lake, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to determine the firmness of the terrain prior to landing, which resulted in the aircraft sinking and nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted an off-airport landing on a soft, former lakebed without checking ground conditions. The aircraft sank into the terrain and nosed over upon deceleration.
What happened
The pilot decided to conduct an off-field landing in a location that had previously contained a lake when water levels were higher. Utilizing soft-field landing techniques, the initial touchdown proceeded without incident. However, as the aircraft continued to slow down, it began to sink into the soft terrain, resulting in a nose-over.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the pilot had not taken any action to assess the firmness of the terrain before attempting the landing. This lack of preparation contributed directly to the aircraft becoming embedded in the soft ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to determine the firmness of the terrain prior to landing, which resulted in the aircraft sinking and nosing over.