Maule M 7-235C accident near Macon, Missouri, January 29, 2016
On January 29, 2016 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2002 Maule M 7-235C, registered N66E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Macon, Missouri (Macon-Fower Municipal 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 failure of the right main landing gear assembly for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2016 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Missouri · Macon-Fower Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M 7-235C 235C, built 2002 · all M 7-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N66E · registry record · serial 25077C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll following a normal touchdown after a personal flight, the pilot felt a vibration in the airframe, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the side of the runway. A pilot-rated witness confirmed that the landing approach, flare, and touchdown were normal, and the surface wind was about a 20-degree left crosswind at 8 to 10 knots and not gusting at the time of landing. An examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear strut assembly failed, and all associated fracture surfaces were consistent with overload. The reason for the overload failure could not be determined.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 18, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 395 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K89 Macon MO
- Destination: K89 Macon MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,150 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- 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.