Maule M-7-235 accident near Recluse, Wyoming, September 20, 1993
On September 20, 1993 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Maule M-7-235, registered N61043, was substantially damaged in an accident near Recluse, Wyoming (Recluse airport). 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 BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1993 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Recluse, Wyoming · Recluse · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-235 · all M-7-235s 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 REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AN ANTELOPE DARTED OUT IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NOTED THAT IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND HAD SKIDDED SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INSPECTION BY FAA PERSONNEL DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 1,452 hours in all; 1,422 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rozet WY at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.