No fatalities

12 Oct 2011: MAULE MX-7-180C — Zelienople, PA

Zelienople, PA, United States

On 12 Oct 2011, a MAULE MX-7-180C was involved in an aviation accident near Zelienople, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not maintain directional control during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot practicing takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel airplane experienced a hard landing, veered left, and struck the right wing on the runway, causing substantial damage to the wing rib and aileron.

Incident Overview

A pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. Upon landing, the aircraft touched down with more force than intended and then veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder and right brake in an attempt to correct the deviation, and the airplane came to rest at the edge of the runway.

Damage Assessment

During the accident sequence, the airplane's right wing struck the runway surface. This impact resulted in substantial damage to a right wing rib and the aileron. The extent of the damage indicates a significant, but localized, structural impact to the wing.

Mechanical Examination

A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-existing mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft's systems were found to be functional, and no evidence of any defect was discovered that could have contributed to the event.

Pilot Actions

The pilot reported that the landing was harder than usual and that the subsequent veer to the left occurred despite corrective inputs. The application of full right rudder and brake was a reactive measure to regain directional control, but the airplane's path could not be fully corrected before it reached the runway edge.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot