Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ponca, Arkansas 72670
Friday, September 15, 2006 18:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 2,129-hour commercial pilot executed a straight-in approach to his private airstrip. On final approach, the pilot configured the airplane with full flaps, nose-trimmed-up, and maintained 60 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard on the 1,200-foot long by 60-foot wide private grass airstrip. The tricycle gear equipped airplane bounced and became airborne after the hard landing. During the second touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over, subsequently coming to rest near the center of the airstrip, in the inverted position. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The first touchdown point was reported at a point 120 feet beyond the landing threshold, with a second touchdown point found to be 110 feet beyond the initial touchdown point. The pilot reported clear skies, and the wind from 130 degrees at 10 knots, and added that the grass runway was "mowed, smooth, and normal." The pilot reported that total time on the airframe was 70 hours and he had accumulated a total of 82 hours in the same make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Ponca
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72670
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360313N
Event Location Longitude 0932203W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UNK
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 2340
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID HRO
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20738
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2006 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Little Rock, AR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N143RM
NTSB Number DFW06CA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Maule
Aircraft Model MT-7
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18094C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 70
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael E. Mills
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 1
Aircraft Owner City Ponca
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72670
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code KTKX
Departure City Kennet
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Ponca
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 10 2006 4:48PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location UNK
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --