Maule MXT-7-180 accident near Troy, Alabama, August 28, 2021
On August 28, 2021 at about 6:05 pm local time, a 2018 Maule MXT-7-180, registered N32566, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Troy, Alabama (Dunn Private Airstrip 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 failure to maintain directional control while landing which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2021 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, Alabama · Dunn Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MXT-7-180, built 2018 · all MXT-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N32566 · registry record · serial 14137C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted and departed with the intent to practice approaches and landings. After the last practice approach, he set up for a straight in approach with full flaps. He stated that as he approached the runway threshold, “my right wing abruptly rose significantly, and the airplane started to slip to the left”. He applied right rudder and aileron but was unable to correct the airplane’s direction before it struck a tree with the left wing, descended, and came to rest inverted on the edge of the trees. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact 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 in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 99.4 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 75.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 8, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 163 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2020; 54.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 163 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOI Troy AL at 4:45 pm
- Destination: TOI Troy AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 1,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from TOI, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTOI 281753Z AUTO 10007KT 10SM FEW034 FEW044 BKN060 32/21 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP194 T03170211 10333 20250 58008=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA21LA345.