Maule MX-7-160 accident near Northville, New York, October 9, 2022
On October 9, 2022 at about 3:44 pm local time, a 1999 Maule MX-7-160, registered N41510, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Northville, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to depart from an area of wet sand, which resulted in a nose over during the attempted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2022 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- Northville, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-160, built 1999 · all MX-7-160s on the register
- Registration
- N41510 · registry record · serial 34001C
- 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, while attempting to depart from a lakeside beach, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered an unexpected wind gust during the ground roll. The airplane crossed over a water channel and the main landing gear sank into wet sand. The airplane then nosed-over into the lake, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and tail. The pilot reported that there were no preaccidcent mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5,450 as pilot in command; 4,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,273.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2022; 18.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 1,273 hours total
- Operator: Clemente Motor INC
The flight
- Destination: ALB Albany NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from GFL, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGFL 091553Z AUTO 20010KT 10SM CLR 12/04 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01220039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 6, 2023. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Reports from State Agencies - New York State | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.