Maule M7 accident near Turner, Maine, July 23, 2009
On July 23, 2009 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Maule M7, registered N595Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Turner, Maine (Twitchell Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2009 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Turner, Maine · Twitchell Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M7 235 · all M7s on the register
- Registration
- N595Z · registry record · serial 23105C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane departed an asphalt runway with the intention of moving the airplane to an adjacent turf runway at the same airport. The pilot stated that he made a normal takeoff, climbed above the trees, and began an approach to landing for the turf runway. The pilot made a "normal landing, and in an instant, the nose started down." The airplane's propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. Postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane exhibited no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 9 nautical miles south of the accident site, reported winds from 060 degrees at 5 knots around the time of the accident. Several attempts were made to obtain the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report from the pilot and operator; however, neither submitted the form.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,500 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B5 Turner ME at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 3B5 Turner ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from LEW, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.