Maule MX-7 N6131M

Summary

On 30 June 1989 at about 22:44 local time, a Maule MX-7 registered N6131M was involved in an accident near Atlantic, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 June 1989 at 22:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.3906, -95.0100

Aircraft

Maule MX-7

Registration

N6131M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89GA147

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM A STALL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PUBLIC USE ACFT WAS BEING USED BY THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TO SEARCH FOR A MISSING PERSON. GROUND SEARCHERS IN THE AREA RPRTD THE ACFT WAS FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL, WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP BANK, APCHG 90 DEG. THE TURN WAS MADE TO CIRCLE BACK & KEEP SIGHT OF SOMEONE BELIEVED TO BE THE MISSING PERSON. WHILE TURNING, THE ACFT SUDDENLY ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & IMPACTED THE GROUND. A POST-ACDNT INSPN OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.