Maule MX-7-180C accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, October 12, 2011
On October 12, 2011 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180C, registered N567HW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Zelienople, Pennsylvania (Zelienople Municipal 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 did not maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2011 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Zelienople, Pennsylvania · Zelienople Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180C · all MX-7-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N567HW · registry record · serial 28019C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had been practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Upon landing, the airplane touched down a little hard and veered to the left. He applied full right rudder and right brake, and the airplane came to rest at the edge of the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane’s right wing struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to a right wing rib and the right aileron. Examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 217 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2011; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTP Butler PA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PJC Zelienople PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,933 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from BTP, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N567HW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.