Maule MX-7-180B accident near Edenville, Michigan, November 15, 2006
On November 15, 2006 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180B, registered N4159K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edenville, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control during landing on a lake resulting in the amphibian aircraft flipping over inverted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2006 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Edenville, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180B · all MX-7-180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4159K · registry record · serial 22015C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amphibious float equipped airplane crashed while attempting to land on a lake. A witness reported seeing the airplane approaching to land; however, there were no witnesses to the accident. About 40 minutes later, a boater contacted local authorities to report an over turned sailboat in the lake. Upon arrival at the scene, emergency crews observed the accident airplane inverted in the water. A witness located in a wooded area approximately 3 miles south of the accident site reported that he saw a propeller-driven airplane with floats flying northbound between 1430 and 1500. He noted that it appeared to be in level flight and the "engine was running very smoothly." A post accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The landing gear was retracted and the gear selector handle was in the up position.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 134 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3BS Midland MI
- Destination: Edenville ME
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MBS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.