What happened
On 23 May 2009, a Maule MX-7-180C Super Rocket, registration G-OMOL, was conducting a private flight from Aghadowey to Enniskillen via Draperstown. The pilot intended to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), navigating around heavy showers. While approaching Draperstown, the aircraft encountered heavy rain, severe turbulence, and significant windshear.
These meteorological conditions caused the aircraft to experience strong downdrafts. Despite applying full power and maintaining the optimal angle of climb speed of 72 knots, the aircraft could not gain sufficient altitude to clear the rising terrain. Consequently, the pilot performed a forced landing into a dense coniferous forest in Goles Forest, County Tyrone. The aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair. The pilot escaped without injury, while the passenger sustained one injury consisting of mild bruising.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the flight circumstances and the aircraft's performance capabilities. The investigation noted that the pilot had recently acquired the aircraft and had observed that the engine size appeared less powerful than those found in other amphibious Maule models. The manufacturer clarified that while they do not publish specific climb performance figures, official flight testing at maximum takeoff weight recorded a climb rate of 870 ft/min.