Maule M-7-235B N235TT

Summary

On 13 March 2023 at about 17:52 local time, a Maule M-7-235B registered N235TT, operated by Wild Country Aircraft LLC, was involved in an accident near Hotchkiss, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 March 2023 at 17:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Hotchkiss, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

BLM Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

38.7042, -107.8056

Aircraft

Maule M-7-235B

Registration

N235TT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Wild Country Aircraft LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Austin → Hotchkiss

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA132

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of control during landing rollout on a snow-covered, turf airstrip.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot planned to land at a Bureau of Land Management backcountry landing strip he had previously visited over 100 times. After completing multiple low passes to assess the snow depth and overall conditions of the landing area, he executed a soft field landing in a 3-point, full stall attitude. During the rollout, the drag from the snow was greater than expected and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane nosed over at low speed and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right-wing struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.