N6119Q

On September 24, 1994, at 2015 central daylight time (cdt), a Maule MX-7-235, N6119Q, registered to Stanley D. Reiswig, nosed over while landing on a private field in Washburn, North Dakota, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Turtle Lake, North Dakota, on September 24, 1994.

The pilot stated he was landing on a newly harvested farm field when the accident occurred. He stated he intended to land to the east and noticed there was a "30-40 foot pole with some type of TV-like antennae" just south of the approach end of the field. He stated he was concerned there may have been "guy wires" connected to the pole. He made several fly-bys to try and determine if there were in fact wires without seeing any. He stated that in order to stay as far away from any possible guy wires, he decided not to make a straight-in approach but rather he approached the field from the northwest. He reported, "Just as I came close to my touchdown area I had to make a slight correction in my path to the left. Just a few feet off the ground I lost airspeed and couldn't flare or have time for power and my touchdown was a little harder than usual." He stated that on touchdown the left main gear dug into the soft terrain and the airplane slowly nosed over.

The pilot had three recommendations which could have prevented the accident. They were, (1) greater speed on landing approach, (2) no turning just prior to flare, and (3) different approach to area, ie: opposite direction since there was no wind direction difference.