Maule M-7 accident near Aravada, Wyoming, April 14, 1992
On April 14, 1992 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Maule M-7, registered N61043, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aravada, Wyoming. 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT, AND HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION. FACTORS INCLUDE A LOW PASS, AND A TRANSMISSION WIRE IN THE PATH OF FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1992 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Aravada, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7 · all M-7s on the register
- Registration
- N61043 · no longer on the register · serial 4044C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE MAULE M-7 PLANNED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD IN ORDER TO VISIT AN ACQUAINTANCE AT A NEARBY RANCH. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE AREA OF THE RANCH HE MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE PROPOSED LANDING SITE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A SAFE FIELD TO TOUCH DOWN IN. AS HE MADE THE LOW PASS HE WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE LANDING SURFACE, AND DID NOT SEE THE POWERLINES UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID THEM. HE TRIED TO GO UNDER THE WIRES, BUT CONTACTED THE LOWER ONE, AND WAS PULLED DOWN INTO THE TERRAIN.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,354 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1991; 205 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Recluse WY at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N61043 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.