Maule MX-7-235 accident near Watkins, Colorado, April 14, 2003
On April 14, 2003, a Maule MX-7-235, registered N44UG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watkins, Colorado (Front Range 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 directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll out. Contributing factors were the unlocked tailwheel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2003
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Front Range · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-235 · all MX-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N44UG · registry record · serial 10088C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot wanted to practice crosswind landings. He made a normal crosswind approach and landing on runway 17. The wind at Denver International Airport, located 10 miles to the northwest, was from 110 degrees at 12 knots. Upon touchdown, the pilot held full left aileron and full aft elevator and maintained directional control with the rudder. As the airplane rolled out, it began drifting to the right, so the pilot reduced right rudder input. The nose "swung left quickly" into the wind and the pilot applied full right rudder. The airplane ground looped to the left causing substantial damage to the airplane's wings and propeller. The pilot said he suspected that the tail wheel was or had become unlocked. Using the pilot's wind estimate and the recorded wind at Denver International Airport, the computed crosswind component was approximately 7 and 10 knots, respectively. According to the Maule Aircraft Company, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the MX-7-235 is 14 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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 510 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 421 as pilot in command; 116 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 2002; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1CO8 Parker CO
- Destination: FTG Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
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.