Maule MX-7-180 accident near Newport, Oregon, July 5, 1996
On July 5, 1996 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180, registered N5663U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, Oregon (Newport Municipal airport). 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 passenger's inadvertent activation of the aircraft's rudder, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a tree during an attempted go-around (aborted landing).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1996 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, Oregon · Newport Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180 · all MX-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5663U · no longer on the register · serial 11023-C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just as the pilot began the landing flare, the passenger attempted to adjust his position in his seat. While trying to adjust his position, the passenger inadvertently depressed the rudder pedal and held it in that position. As the aircraft responded to the rudder deflection, the pilot attempted a go-around, but was unable to maintain control with the rudder remaining in the deflected position. The aircraft crashed into trees before the go-around was completed.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 406 hours in all; 390 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 331 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1996; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: ONP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,398 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.