Maule M-7-235C accident near Miles City, Montana, June 25, 2004
On June 25, 2004 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Maule M-7-235C, registered N1936P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miles City, Montana (Frank Wiley 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll resulting in a main landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2004 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Miles City, Montana · Frank Wiley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-235C · all M-7-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1936P · registry record · serial 25008C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 30, the aircraft started to veer to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action with right rudder control however, he felt a vibration in the tailwheel like it was "skidding" as the aircraft continued to the left. The right main tire came loose from the rim and the left main landing gear failed at the fuselage attached points. During these actions, both wing tips contacted the runway surface. The aircraft came to rest with the left wing on the runway surface. Wing skin wrinkles were noted on the upper surface, and a rivet seam line was pulled apart on the lower surface. The left side step was pushed up into the floor board area, and the occupant seat structure was damaged. The right side wing tip was damaged as well as the outboard aileron tip. Inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that the left side main wheel was flat with a small puncture hole noted on the outer rim. The right side main tire was also flat and the rim was damaged from side loading contact with the runway surface. The tailwheel was intact and free to rotate.
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: 4,070 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 154 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2004; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIR Pierre SD at 1:15 pm
- Destination: MLS Miles City MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,624 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MLS
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.