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Atlas / NTSB / WPR22LA232

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR22LA232

2022-06-11 Copperopolis, California, United States None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N13ZF

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

MAULE MX-7-235

Year of manufacture

1987 · 35 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)

Seats / Engines

5 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19870801

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A07B1D

Registrant of record

13ZF LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the airplane during takeoff in gusting wind.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that, during takeoff from the lake, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, which lifted the left wing. While correcting the airplane encountered a second gust of wind, which raised the left wing, resulting in the right wingtip striking the water. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted within the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were 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-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_WPR22LA232.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.