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GAA17CA101

2016-12-15 · Willow, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N56681

Make / Model
MAULE MX-7-235
Year of manufacture
1987 · 29 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING L-540-T4B5 (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20010618
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A740BE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the runway was clear of any obstacles before departure, which resulted in the airplane impacting a snowdrift.

Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff from a remote airstrip, the airplane impacted a snowdrift and was "launched" into the air. Subsequently, he heard something break. He added that the airplane appeared to be fine with no indications of a problem other than the left tire "looked a little off". The pilot returned to his original departure airport without further incident. During a post-accident examination, his mechanic discovered that the tubing in the bottom of the fuselage where the olio strut attached to the main landing gear was broken. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot added that walking the runway prior to takeoff might have revealed the snowdrift. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a remote airstrip, the airplane impacted a snowdrift and was "launched" into the air. Subsequently, he heard something break. He added that the airplane appeared to be fine with no indications of a problem other than the left tire "looked a little off." The pilot returned to his original departure airport without further incident. During a postaccident examination, his mechanic discovered that the tubing in the bottom of the fuselage where the oleo strut attached to the main landing gear was broken. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot added that walking the runway before takeoff might have revealed the snowdrift. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Snow/slush/ice covered surface-Effect on operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-(general)-Pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA17CA101.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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