Maule M 6 180C accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming, July 16, 2006
On July 16, 2006 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Maule M 6 180C, registered N72RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming (Kemmerer Muni 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff due to the improper rigging of the airplane's flap system by unknown maintenance personnel. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2006 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kemmerer, Wyoming · Kemmerer Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M 6 180C · all M 6 180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N72RM · registry record · serial 8020C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In the fall of 2004, the airplane had been damaged while in a hangar during a hurricane. During the repairs, the wings were removed and reinstalled. Prior to the pilot's purchase of the airplane, he and an inspection authorization (IA) certificated mechanic examined the airplane and the airplane's maintenance records. During the cross-country flight back to the pilot's state of residence, he landed for an intermediate fuel stop. After refueling, the pilot taxied to runway 34 for takeoff. According to the airport's automated weather observing system (AWOS), the density altitude was 10,300 feet mean sea level and the wind was 4 knots from the west. In accordance with the airplane flight manual, the pilot selected the second notch of flaps (24 degrees) for the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to "lift off (feel light) and the tail wheel left the ground, the [airplane] began turning left." The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane back to the runway centerline; however, the application of "right rudder was ineffective." The airplane's main landing gear struck a runway light and the airplane was approaching a snow fence. Subsequently, the pilot "intentionally ground-looped the airplane," and the airplane came to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the wing flap system was not rigged in accordance with the airplane's maintenance manual. The accident airplane's "handle full down" flap setting was 0 degrees, and according to the manual, the "handle full down" flap setting was negative 7 degrees. The flap settings were found to be misrigged by 7 degrees through the entire flap setting range. In accordance with the airplane flight manual, the flap handle position for takeoff should be set the second notch, or 24 degrees of flaps, position. Due to the improperly rigged flap setting, the actual flap position during the accident attempted takeoff was 31 degrees. According to the airplane manufacturer, the 31 degrees of flaps at takeoff would produce increased drag and premature lift of the wing. During takeoff with the improper flap position, elevator authority would be available; however, rudder authority may be decreased at lower airspeeds.
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: 401 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 349 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMM Kemmerer WY at 6:50 pm
- Destination: EUL Caldwell ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 8,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN06LA100.