Maule MXT-7-180 accident near Maybee, Michigan, April 3, 2010
On April 3, 2010 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Maule MXT-7-180, registered N125AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Maybee, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). 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 failure to compensate for gusting crosswinds resulting in the loss of directional control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2010 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Maybee, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MXT-7-180 · all MXT-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N125AB · registry record · serial 14102C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land on his private airstrip with high, gusting winds. A local weather station reported that the prevailing wind was out of the south-southwest at 27 knots, gusting to 38 knots. The pilot reported that he aligned with the runway 27 centerline and held a crab into the wind until the landing flare and touchdown. Upon touchdown, the airplane encountered a wind gust and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest upside down on the grass runway. The right wing, engine firewall, and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 662 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 735 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 822 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Short Field Deliveries, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Hillsdale MI at 4:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Maybee MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,475 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 27 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 5:16 pm from KTTF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.