Maule M 7-235C accident near Kemmerer, Wyoming, September 30, 2015
On September 30, 2015 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2002 Maule M 7-235C, registered N4244L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kemmerer, Wyoming (Kemmerer Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing which resulted in a loss directional control and ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2015 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kemmerer, Wyoming · Kemmerer Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M 7-235C 235C, built 2002 · all M 7-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4244L · registry record · serial 25079C
- 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 the landing was "hard and the plane bounced, I tried to get it under control, but the next time it came down it also hit hard." He reported that he tried to execute a go-around but the airplane for a third time, "came down again and ground looped." The airplane departed the runway to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted terrain. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also stated, "I should have had more training in this airplane, and I should not have landed at an airport with such a high density altitude." The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- 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 Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 607 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 444.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5 (piston); 462 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6K5 Sisters OR at 2:15 pm
- Destination: EMM Kemmerer WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,203 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KEMM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N4244L 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.