Maule MX 7-235 N88CR

Summary

On 11 November 2013 at about 17:30 local time, a Maule MX 7-235 registered N88CR was involved in an accident near San Ynez, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 2013 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Ynez, California, United States

Coordinates

34.6378, -119.6175

Aircraft

Maule MX 7-235

Registration

N88CR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1988

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Ynez → Santa Ynez

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA048

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering at low altitude in hilly terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he departed from a remote private air strip and proceeded along a geological drainage ravine for 3 miles, then turned up a side canyon into rising terrain. As the airplane approached a saddle in the terrain the pilot spotted 2 black bears. The pilot entered a descent and executed a right turn to orbit the bears. After a 360-degree turn he realized that the airplane had descended too low and was approaching rising terrain. The airplane's slow airspeed and angle of bank did not allow for recovery and the airplane subsequently collided with the terrain and nosed over. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.