Maule M7 accident near Manchester, New Hampshire, February 2, 2020
On February 2, 2020 at about 5:55 pm local time, a 1999 Maule M7, registered N309MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Manchester, New Hampshire (Manchester 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 improper landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2020 · about 5:55 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Manchester, New Hampshire · Manchester · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M7 260, built 1999 · all M7s on the register
- Registration
- N309MA · registry record · serial 26002C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced and veered left. The right wing struck the runway, and the airplane then ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,700 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 21, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,618.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-540-V4A5 (piston); 286 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHT Manchester NH at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MHT Manchester NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 9,250 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMHT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 25, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Damage Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N309MA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N309MA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-7 275 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,344 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming I0-540-V4A5 4,219 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Manchester Boston Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Hampshire 393 since 1982 · 57 in the last ten years
- New Hampshire 1,555 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N309MA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA20CA098.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.