Maule MX-7-235 accident near East Brady, Pennsylvania, July 6, 2003
On July 6, 2003 at about 2:39 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-235, registered N70LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Brady, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2003 · about 2:39 pm local time
- Place
- East Brady, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-235 · all MX-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N70LB · registry record · serial 10010C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot set up for a river landing by first circling the touchdown zone twice to check for obstacles, and waiting for boat traffic to clear. The pilot maintained an airspeed of about 75 knots during the approach, and slowed to an estimated 60 knots just above the water. During the touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the pilot added power to cushion the landing. The airplane touched down on the water on its left float, bounced onto its right float, then again on its left float. During the last bounce, the left strut impacted the fuselage, and the airplane came to rest on the shore of the river. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both pontoons, both wings, the engine cowling, and the propeller. No mechanical anomalies were 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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 651 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTP Butler PA
- Destination: NONE East Brady PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N70LB 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.