Maule MX-7-235 accident near Hermiston, Oregon, December 4, 2004
On December 4, 2004 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-235, registered N420CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hermiston, Oregon. 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
An improper flare and descent rate during landing resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2004 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hermiston, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-235 · all MX-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N420CD · registry record · serial 10064C
- 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 after flying around the local area for about one hour, he decided to land in an open field. The pilot reported that he set-up a normal approach to land over a 30 to 40 foot obstacle. After clearing the obstacle, he lowered the nose of the aircraft, then flared for the landing. The flare did not adequately arrest the descent rate and the aircraft touched down hard subsequently collapsing both main landing gear. The aircraft slid on its belly for about 100 to 150 feet before coming to rest.
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: 1,150 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,058 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 19, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2003; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRI Hermiston OR at 10:00 pm
- Destination: HRI Hermiston OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from HRI, 8 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.