Maule M-7-235 accident near Cumming, Georgia, August 2, 1986
On August 2, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Maule M-7-235, registered N56616, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumming, Georgia (Mathis Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cumming, Georgia · Mathis Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-235 · all M-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N56616 · no longer on the register · serial 4023C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO LAND ON A SHORT NARROW RWY IN WINDY CONDITIONS. AFTER THE 1ST ATTEMPT, HE CHANGED RWYS, BASED ON THE UNICOM ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE WIND FAVORED RWY 3. ON THE LAST APCH, THE PLT LANDED ABOUT 1/3 TO 1/2 OF THE WAY DOWN THE 1550 FT RWY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RGT WHEEL DROPPED OFF THE PAVEMENT. AFTER GUIDING THE RGT WHEEL BACK ONTO THE HARD SURFACE, INSUFFICIENT RWY REMAINED TO STOP THE ACFT. RATHER THAN ROLL OFF THE RWY & DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, THE PLT GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE RGT MAIN LANDING GEAR. REPORTEDLY, THE WIND WAS VARIABLE & GUSTY & THERE WAS LOW LEVEL TURBULENCE & WIND SHEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 930 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,550 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.