Maule MX-7-180C accident near Dyersburg, Tennessee, July 1, 1997
On July 1, 1997 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180C, registered N71VF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dyersburg, Tennessee (Dyersburg Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision and failure to insure the that airplane would remain clear of trees during the go-around. Factors relating to the accident included: the high temperature, high density altitude, and the proximity of trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1997 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dyersburg, Tennessee · Dyersburg Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180C · all MX-7-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N71VF · registry record · serial 28002C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was landing on runway 34 when the airplane 'bounced on landing and weathervaned into the wind.' He said he initiated a go-around and gradually retracted the flaps to build up his airspeed; however, the airplane remained in ground effect. The pilot stated that the airplane would not 'climb quickly enough to clear a hedgerow perimetering a golf course.' Subsequently, the airplane struck the hedgerow and crashed onto the golf course. Ambient conditions at the time of the accident included high temperature and high density altitude.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,436 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,315 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 3, 1997; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:41 pm from DYR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.