Maule M-7-260 accident near Sea Ranch, California, October 17, 2026
On October 17, 2026 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2008 Maule M-7-260, registered N3217V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sea Ranch, California (The Sea Ranch 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2026 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Sea Ranch, California · The Sea Ranch · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-260, built 2008 · all M-7-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3217V · registry record · serial 26022C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 17, 2026, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Maule M-7-260, N3217V, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion while landing at The Sea Ranch Airport (CA51), Sea Ranch, California. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had recently retrieved the airplane from a maintenance facility following an annual inspection and associated maintenance. During the initial engine run-up, the right wheel brake remained engaged after he released the parking brake. He re-engaged the parking brake and released it again, after which both brakes released normally. He then taxied the airplane and completed the flight to CA51 without further reported brake anomalies. According to the pilot, after touchdown, the airplane pulled strongly to the right. The pilot applied the left brake in an attempt to counter the turn, but was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, traveled through a drainage swale, and struck an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the right-wing struts. The pilot reported that he believed the right parking brake may have re-engaged after he checked the brake pedals before landing. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 aircraft
- Airframe total time: 920.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 2026; 0.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 4:57 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 am from KLLR
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLLR 171735Z AUTO 35004KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3010 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3217V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-7 275 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- The Sea Ranch Airport · nearest airport
- Charles M Schulz/Sonoma County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR27LA020.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.