Ralph Koch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Poseyville, Indiana 47633
Sunday, August 4, 1996 16:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane touched down, and as it rolled down the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the propeller went into the ground. He said he was 'not very familiar' with the airplane and he 'didn't know the nose was so heavy.' He reported that the airplane did not bounce during the landing, and he believed the airplane was 'rolling' when the nose dropped. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported the nose was crushed at a 20 to 30 degree angle due to a 'substantial impact'. The strut was fractured near the fork. The inspector reported that 'it appears that the aircraft either bounced first, or just landed in an extremely nose down condition.' He reported no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper flare during the landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the make and model of airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City POSEYVILLE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47633
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RALPH KOCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 921N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 460
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1254
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1021
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3187Z
NTSB Number CHI96LA272
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Maule
Aircraft Model MT-7-235
Aircraft Series Identifier MT-7-235
Aircraft Serial Number 18022C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 21
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RALPH E. KOCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR2, BOX 23
Aircraft Owner City POSEYVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47633
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 92IN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 1900
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --