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Atlas / NTSB / WPR21LA051

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR21LA051

2020-11-12 Moab, Utah, United States Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N721P

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

MAULE MX-7-180AC

Year of manufacture

2004 · 16 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING O-360 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20040325

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A9A888

Registrant of record

STOBBE MARLIN L

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff from an unimproved airstrip, which resulted in a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he was departing to the north from an unimproved, backcountry airstrip with a light tailwind. During the takeoff ground roll, the tail rose and the airplane subsequently nosed over and impacted terrain. The right-wing lift struts and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there was no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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).

  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_WPR21LA051.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.