Maule MX-7-180A accident near Plains, Georgia, March 13, 2004
On March 13, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180A, registered N3179U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plains, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of the speed/distance/altitude which resulted in a overrun of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plains, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180A · all MX-7-180As on the register
- Registration
- N3179U · registry record · serial 20028C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the approach to landing at a private airstrip he misjudged the length of the landing surface and landed long, and collided with the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical problems prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed, both wing assemblies broke off the fuselage. The fuselage, and engine firewall was buckled.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 27, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 16J Dawson GA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Plains GA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KABY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL04LA084.