On July 27, 2005, a Maule MX7-180 (registration N185DB) operated by Steve R. Wilson was involved in an aviation accident near Yakutat, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on a remote beach with soft and steep terrain, which resulted in the right main landing gear tire encountering difficult ground conditions and the subsequent nosing over of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot attempting to land on a remote beach encountered soft terrain with the right main gear, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain structural damage.
What happened
An airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a landing operation on a remote beach using an airplane equipped with tundra tires. During the landing roll, the aircraft's right main landing gear tire encountered terrain that was both soft and steep. In an effort to bring the airplane to a stop under these challenging conditions, the aircraft nosed over. The incident resulted in structural damage to the wings and the vertical stabilizer.
The investigation
The pilot reported that the right main landing gear tire hit uneven ground during the rollout. This contact caused the nose of the aircraft to drop, leading to significant structural damage to the forward fuselage area, specifically affecting the wings and vertical stabilizer.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land on a remote beach with soft and steep terrain, which resulted in the right main landing gear tire encountering difficult ground conditions and the subsequent nosing over of the airplane.
What happened in the 27 Jul 2005 Maule MX7-180 accident near Yakutat, AK?
A pilot attempting to land on a remote beach encountered soft terrain with the right main gear, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain structural damage.
Were there any fatalities in the 27 Jul 2005 Maule MX7-180 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 27 Jul 2005 involved a Maule MX7-180, registration N185DB, operated by Steve R. Wilson, at Yakutat, AK.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's decision to land on a remote beach with soft and steep terrain, which resulted in the right main landing gear tire encountering difficult ground conditions and the subsequent nosing over of the airplane.
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