Maule 7-235 accident near Truckee, California, June 5, 2005
On June 5, 2005, a Maule 7-235, registered N90KD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2005
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule 7-235
- Registration
- N90KD · no longer on the register · serial 4094C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout on runway 28, the airplane veered to the left and ground looped. As the airplane slowed down to taxi speed, it veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder, but the airplane continued to track toward the runway's edge. The pilot then applied the brake, and the right main landing gear folded. The airplane's right wing tip and propeller were damaged as a result of impacting the surface. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) issued for the airport 2 hours 15 minutes before the accident reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot said he believed the winds were from 220 degrees at 10 to 12 knots. The pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind during the landing rollout, which blew him to the side. A Federal Aviation Administration certificated airframe and power plant maintenance technician examined the airplane after the accident and found no discrepancies.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 19,850 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,047 as pilot in command; 124 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 459 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-WIA5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAF Half Moon Bay CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: TRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from KTRK
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.