Maule MX-7-235 accident near Ontario, Oregon, March 28, 2021
On March 28, 2021 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1987 Maule MX-7-235, registered N235X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ontario, Oregon (Ontario Muni 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
A loss of hydraulic fluid and failure of the right brake for reasons that could not be determined due to a lack of available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Ontario, Oregon · Ontario Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-235, built 1987 · all MX-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N235X · registry record · serial 10054C
- 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, when he applied brakes during the landing roll, there was no pressure on the right brake pedal. The airplane veered left and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he observed hydraulic fluid on the right main landing gear after the accident. The accident was not reported until several months later. An examination of the parts retained by the pilot’s mechanic, including the brake, brake disc, and fittings did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The hydraulic fluid observed on the landing gear suggests the brake failure may have resulted from a leak at either the hydraulic line or the hydraulic inlet fitting to the brake; however, these items were discarded or replaced before the event was reported and could not be examined. The cause of the leak and right brake failure could not be determined due to a lack of available evidence.
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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Hydraulic fluid › Fluid level other cases naming the other and general
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 524 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 5.9 in the last 90 days; 524 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540 (piston); 3,141 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMC Brigham City UT at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 5,006 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KONO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KONO 281853Z AUTO 17003KT 4SM HZ CLR 17/01 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP192 T01720011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 24, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Brake System Drawings | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Email Correspondence with Airplane Manufacturer | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from Aircraft Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Manufacturer's Brake System Examination Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Accident Photograph | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N235X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule MX-7 193 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540 4,222 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ontario Municipal · nearest airport
- Brigham City Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA362.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.