ATL04LA084

Factual narrative

On March 13, 2004, at 0930 eastern standard time, a Maule MX-7-180A, N3179U, registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with a stand of trees on a private landing strip near Plains, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed Dawson Airport, Dawson, Georgia on March 13, 2004 at 0900. According to the pilot, during the approach to landing at a private airstrip, the airplane collided with a stand of trees at the end of the runway during the landing roll. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical problems prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed, both wing assemblies broke off the fuselage. The fuselage was buckled, and the engine firewall was buckled. According to the pilot, during the approach to landing at a private airstrip he misjudged the length of the landing surface and landed long, and collided with the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical problems prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed, both wing assemblies broke off the fuselage. The fuselage, and engine firewall was buckled. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12