Maule M-4-180V accident near Elko, Nevada, January 7, 2011
On January 7, 2011 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Maule M-4-180V, registered N799ZZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Elko, Nevada (Elko Regional 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2011 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-180V · all M-4-180Vs on the register
- Registration
- N799ZZ · registry record · serial 47001T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting his first solo landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. He performed a three-point landing and, as the airplane slowed, the nose veered to the left. He applied right rudder to correct and the airplane began to roll to the right. The right landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the runway surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2010; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 7:00 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 23, 7,214 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KEKO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.