Maule MX-7-180 accident near Eufaula, Alabama, August 24, 1988
On August 24, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180, registered N56606, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eufaula, Alabama (Weedon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 24, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Alabama · Weedon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180 · all MX-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N56606 · no longer on the register · serial 11011C
- 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 LANDED ON A GRASS STRIP ADJACENT TO THE PAVED RWY, TO 'SAVE THE (AIRPLANE) TIRES' FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED DURING THE ROLLOUT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED A HOLE IN THE TURF. A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE & ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPARENTLY GROUNDLOOPED AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO THE PAVED RWY DURING THE ROLLOUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FOUND THE ROLLOUT AREA TO BE FREE OF HOLES AND FAIRLY SMOOTH, AND THAT THE RWY EDGE WAS ABOUT 2 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE TURF. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE GRASSY AREA HAD SERVED AS A TEMPORARY RWY THE YEAR BEFORE WHEN THE PAVED RWY WAS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. ACCORDING TO THE APPLICABLE AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY, THE ARPT HAD ONLY A SINGLE PAVED RWY; NO GRASS RWY WAS LISTED. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.
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: 220 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Poly-Fabricators, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MBO Jackson MS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from DHN, 41 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.