Maule MX 7-180B accident near Dora, Arkansas, March 28, 2014
On March 28, 2014 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1998 Maule MX 7-180B, registered N10503, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dora, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's bounced landing and delayed decision to go around, which resulted in collision with a fence during the go around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2014 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dora, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX 7-180B 180B, built 1998 · all MX 7-180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N10503 · no longer on the register · serial 22016C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed one stop and go landing on the unimproved landing area. During the second landing attempt he bounced the initial landing, added power to recover, and attempted to land again about midfield. The pilot evaluated the distance remaining and elected to go around. After adding power and committing to the takeoff, the pilot recognized he would not be able to maintain obstacle clearance and attempted to maneuver to a fly over a low fence crossing. The airplane impacted the fence, and came to an immediate stop. The airplane's right main landing gear was bent aft resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,150 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 36.5 in the last 90 days; 20.6 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 725.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 3, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parthenon LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KFSM Fort Smith AR
- Destination: Harrison AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.