NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA16CA015
Registry · N288BC
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
MAULE M-7-260C
Year of manufacture
2012 · 3 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540-V4A5D (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20120319
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A2EBCF
Registrant of record
INNOVATIONS EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed in a field that had numerous gopher holes and mounds. During the landing roll, the main landing gear encountered a soft spot in the terrain and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing strut, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed in a field that had numerous gopher holes and mounds. During the landing roll, the main landing gear encountered a soft spot in the terrain and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing strut, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Soft-Effect on operation - C
- C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Soft-Effect on equipment - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2015_GAA16CA015.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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