Maule MX-7-180C accident near Akron, Alabama, January 18, 2009
On January 18, 2009 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180C, registered N1052U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Akron, Alabama (Strickland-Smalley Field). 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2009 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Alabama · Strickland-Smalley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180C · all MX-7-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1052U · registry record · serial 28007C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he overflew his private airfield prior to landing and noted that the wind was out of the west and "gusty". The wind was estimated by the pilot to be between 12 and 14 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. He elected to land on runway one without flaps and maintained an airspeed between 5 and 10 mph higher than normal due to the gusty conditions. During the flare, he was twice lifted by wind gusts before finally settling on the runway in a nose high attitude just left of centerline. The airplane began to yaw to the left and the pilot attempted to correct with the application of right brake. The airplane continued to the left until the left wing contacted a windsock, damaging the wing and causing the airplane to ground-loop around the windsock. The airplane came to rest after the right wing and elevator contacted the ground.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 474 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 3, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa AL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: AL03 Akron AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from TCL, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.