Maule M7-260 accident near North Lima, Ohio, November 3, 2001
On November 3, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Maule M7-260, registered N5511G, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Lima, Ohio (Bieber'S Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear, which resulted in a wheels down landing on water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Lima, Ohio · Bieber'S Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M7-260 · all M7-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5511G · registry record · serial 26014C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot owned the "amphibian" airplane, which was equipped with both floats and a retractable wheel landing gear configuration. The pilot performed two runway landings at nearby airport, then returned to land at his private lake. The pilot said he inadvertently landed on the lake with the landing gear wheels in the extended position and the airplane flipped over.
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: 563 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4G4 Youngstown OH at 7:55 pm
- Destination: OI76 North Lima OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from YNG, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.