NTSB Reports: June 2017

While on the base leg for his private grass airstrip, the pilot noticed he was high, so he added flaps to increase his descent rate. On final, the airspeed was a little fast and during the landing, he flared the airplane a little high. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane did not respond, so he applied a little more brake. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported he should have performed a go-around instead of attempting to salvage the landing.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilot error and poor judgment, particularly during landing (e.g., mismanaging approaches, failing to go around, or neglecting pre-landing checks), were significant factors in several incidents.
Mechanical failures, including engine power loss, landing gear malfunctions, and propeller damage from foreign objects, led to multiple accidents and forced landings.
Adverse environmental conditions such as gusty winds, severe precipitation, and challenging visibility or terrain contributed to a number of crashes.
Some incidents involved pilots operating outside of their experience levels, medical limitations, or making critical errors post-landing (e.g., propeller strike).

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March 1, 2017, Live Oak, Calif.
Maule MX-7-180A

While on the base leg for his private grass airstrip, the pilot noticed he was high, so he added flaps to increase his descent rate. On final, the airspeed was a little fast and during the landing, he flared the airplane “a little high.” After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane did not respond, so he applied “a little more brake.” The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported he should have performed a go-around instead of attempting to “salvage the landing.”