Maule M 7-235C accident near Mankato, Minnesota, October 11, 2015
On October 11, 2015 at about 9:48 pm local time, a 1996 Maule M 7-235C, registered N3180G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mankato, Minnesota (Mankato Rgnl 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the go-around, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2015 · about 9:48 pm local time
- Place
- Mankato, Minnesota · Mankato Rgnl · 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 1996 · all M 7-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3180G · registry record · serial 25002C
- 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 he was landing in gusting wind conditions, and that while on final, "the wind let off causing us to sink faster than I wanted so I added power." He reported that the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway, he attempted to correct the drift, and then he decided to execute a go-around. He reported that during the go around, he encountered a large gust of wind while in a nose high attitude, and added full right rudder and full left aileron. The right main landing gear struck the ground and was severed, and the airplane impacted the ground. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated as a safety recommendation, he should have "Come in a little faster and used 1 or 2 notches of flaps versus 3."
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 209 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,624.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-WIA5 (piston); 1,625 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKT Mankato MN at 7:45 pm
- Destination: MKT Mankato MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.39 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from KMKT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 17, 2015. 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 | Miscellaneous Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 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.