Maule M-7-260 accident near Port Angeles, Washington, February 3, 2005
On February 3, 2005 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Maule M-7-260, registered N977BE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Angeles, Washington. 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 improper flare. Factors contributing to the accident included the pilot's improper approach and the glassy water condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2005 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Angeles, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-260 · all M-7-260s on the register
- Registration
- N977BE · no longer on the register · serial 26011C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The wind was calm and glassy water conditions prevailed as the pilot approached from the east, intending to land on the western half of the lake. Using visual cues and reducing power to increase his rate of descent, the pilot's delayed landing flare resulted in the airplane impacting the water in a nose low attitude. The entire aircraft sustained structural and water damage, with the exception of the empennage and tail section.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,753 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 5, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2WA1 Diamond Point WA at 5:39 pm
- Destination: CLM Port Angeles WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,321 ft; a few clouds at 871 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from CLM, 10 miles away
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.