Maule MXT-7-180A accident near St Petersburg, Florida, May 17, 2007
On May 17, 2007 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Maule MXT-7-180A, registered N1044M, was destroyed in an accident near St Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 obtain the proper climb rate to clear an obstacle after aborting the landing. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which prompted the aborted landing, and a wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2007 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- St Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MXT-7-180A · all MXT-7-180As on the register
- Registration
- N1044M · registry record · serial 21007C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the Maule MXT-7-180A skipped, and then touched down on the runway centerline. The pilot reported that "as soon as all three wheels hit the ground," a wind gust pushed the aircraft "all the way over" to the right side of the runway, and he perceived that the "right wing was going to hit the grass," so he aborted the landing. With "about 55 knots" of airspeed, the pilot added "full throttle and rotated." A witness observed the airplane flying at an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet off the right side of the runway in a nose high attitude, when it "mushed" back onto the ground. The airplane impacted and was stopped by large concrete blocks associated with a seawall. A postcrash fire immediately ensued. Since the pilot's door was blocked by fire and obstructions, the pilot and passenger exited via the passenger's door. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported approximately 372 hours of total flight experience, 43 hours of which were in make and model.
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: 372 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 313 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: X51 Homestead FL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SPG St Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,864 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SPG
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.