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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time · cases in 2004
- 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 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3179U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule MX-7 193 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,346 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming 0360 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Dawson Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,801 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL04LA084.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.