Maule MT-7-235 accident near Poseyville, Indiana, August 4, 1996
On August 4, 1996 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Maule MT-7-235, registered N3187Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poseyville, Indiana (Ralph Koch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare during the landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the make and model of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1996 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poseyville, Indiana · Ralph Koch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MT-7-235 · all MT-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N3187Z · registry record · serial 18022C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane touched down, and as it rolled down the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the propeller went into the ground. He said he was 'not very familiar' with the airplane and he 'didn't know the nose was so heavy.' He reported that the airplane did not bounce during the landing, and he believed the airplane was 'rolling' when the nose dropped. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported the nose was crushed at a 20 to 30 degree angle due to a 'substantial impact'. The strut was fractured near the fork. The inspector reported that 'it appears that the aircraft either bounced first, or just landed in an extremely nose down condition.' He reported no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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
- Flight time: 585 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 453 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1996; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 92IN at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 1,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.