Maule M-7-235C accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, July 31, 2001
On July 31, 2001 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Maule M-7-235C, registered N17FR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff Pulliam 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control, resulting in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2001 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff Pulliam · 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 · all M-7-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N17FR · registry record · serial 25020C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the second landing the airplane veered to the right of the runway and ground looped. The purpose of the flight was to practice landings, and fly around the area. On the second landing the airplane landed hard due to a high flare. The airplane departed to the right side of the runway. Left rudder input was attempted, but did not return the airplane back to runway centerline. The pilot added some power at the edge of the runway, which put the airplane near an embankment adjacent to the taxiway. The pilot applied full power to straighten the airplane and avoid the embankment. The airplane started to turn to the left, which put the airplane next to another embankment. He attempted to avoid the embankment; however, the landing gear caught as the airplane went over the embankment. The airplane bounced over and onto the runway. The pilot stated that there were no discrepancies noted with the airplane.
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
- Flight time: 807 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 748 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,002 hours in all; 62 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 1,996 as pilot in command; 981 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2001; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540W1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 1:35 pm
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,999 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from FLG
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.