Maule MX-7-180 accident near Lovelock, Nevada, July 28, 1992
On July 28, 1992, a Maule MX-7-180, registered N6138Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovelock, Nevada (Derby Field). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PRESENCE OF DUST DEVILS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1992
- Place
- Lovelock, Nevada · Derby Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180 · all MX-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6138Y · no longer on the register · serial 11061C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT THE WIND SOCK WAS LIMP. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A GENTLE TURN TO THE RIGHT WHICH HE CORRECTED. AFTER A GROUND ROLL OF ABOUT 300 FEET THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE NOTED THE PRESENCE OF DUST DEVILS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,189 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1991; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WVI Watsonville CA at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,530 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N6138Y 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.