Maule MX 7-180 accident near Georgetown, Texas, January 23, 2015
On January 23, 2015 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 1986 Maule MX 7-180, registered N773MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown Muni 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 did not maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2015 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Georgetown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX 7-180, built 1986 · all MX 7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N773MC · registry record · serial 11019C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land and noted moderate gusting wind from the left. During the landing, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind; the airplane began a left turn and then a hard right turn. The pilot lost control of the airplane and it exited the left side of the runway. The pilot advanced the throttle to avoid a ditch but the right wheel impacted the ditch. The left wing then struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,674 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 5,117 as pilot in command; 1,047 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 860 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTW Fort Worth TX at 7:55 pm
- Destination: GTU Georgetown TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:10 pm from KGTU
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.