Maule MT 7-260 accident near Largo Vista, Texas, September 12, 2014
On September 12, 2014 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2006 Maule MT 7-260, registered N719WM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Largo Vista, Texas (Lago Vista Rusty Allen airport). 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 inadequate compensation for gusting wind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in the nose landing gear impacting the runway and the subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2014 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Largo Vista, Texas · Lago Vista Rusty Allen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MT 7-260, built 2006 · all MT 7-260s on the register
- Registration
- N719WM · registry record · serial 27012C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot noted the wind from the right at 8-16 knots and gusting 16-21 knots. He added that just after the airplane got airborne, there was a downdraft, and the airplane bounced three times. The airplane then made three larger bounces, before the nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the runway. The airplane exited the runway and came to rest in the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,730 hours in all; 209 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 28, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 2013; 334 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRYW Largo Vista TX
- Destination: KRYW Largo Vista TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,808 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm
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.