Maule M7-235B accident near Topeka, Kansas, November 2, 2022
On November 2, 2022 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 2005 Maule M7-235B, registered N190Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Topeka, Kansas (Topeka Philip 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 failure to maintain airplane control during landing with strong gusty surface winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2022 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Topeka Philip Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M7-235B, built 2005 · all M7-235Bs on the register
- Registration
- N190Y · registry record · serial 23085C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during touchdown, the “nose pitched up” and caused the right wing to stall. The airplane fell and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 18 with winds directly down the runway at 14 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,238 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 9, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 998 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540-B4-B5 (piston); 659 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KNQA Millington TN at 12:55 pm
- Destination: KTOP Topeka KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,331 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
Weather report (METAR): KTOP 022053Z 18014G25KT 10SM CLR 25/09 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 18028/2042 SLP151 T02500094 56029 KTOP 022153Z 17016G28KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 15028/2151 SLP150 T02440100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.