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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, Oregon · Ontario Muni · 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
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Hydraulic fluid › Fluid level
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA362.