Maule MX-7 accident near Mahopac, New York, October 5, 1996
On October 5, 1996 at about 6:39 pm local time, a Maule MX-7, registered N6124Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mahopac, New York (Mahopac 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 takeoff, which resulted in a inflight collision with trees (sapplings). A factor related to the accident was: the quartering tailwind that was encountered during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1996 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Mahopac, New York · Mahopac · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7 · all MX-7s on the register
- Registration
- N6124Q · registry record · serial 10073C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and passenger flew to a private airstrip and completed two full stop landings to the south on the turf runway. After a brief stop, the pilot noticed that the active runway had changed to the north. He taxied to the south end of the runway, completed engine checks, and set 24 degrees of flaps. The pilot stated, 'as I fully opened the throttle, I held back-pressure and some right rudder to maximize tail-wheel steering.' The pilot stated that 'the south end of the field was much rougher than he expected, and after a strong bounce, the airplane remained airborne in ground effect.' Also, the pilot stated that he was so focused on the airplane's lack of acceleration, that he did not realize it was headed directly towards a stand of saplings. The airplane impacted the trees in a wings level attitude less than 10 feet off the ground. The airplane had traveled a distance of less than 700 feet, and drifted off the left side of the turf runway. Winds recorded at an airport 18 miles to the south were from 130 degrees at 8 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-235 W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0000 NY at 6:50 pm
- Destination: DXR Danbury CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from HPN, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.