Maule M-7-235 N747GL accident near Warrenton, Virginia

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate airspeed and excessive bank angle while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The airplane was observed by several witnesses entering the airport traffic pattern. Two witnesses observed the airplane bank to the left while turning from the base leg to final approach, stall, and enter an uncontrolled descent. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction. A certified flight instructor, who had flown recently with the accident pilot, reported that, on several occasions, the accident pilot performed turns in the traffic pattern at excessive bank angles. In addition, during the most recent flight with the pilot, the pilot did not properly recover the airplane after hearing the stall warning horn and had to be instructed on how to recover from the impending stall. Based on the witness reports of the airplane’s steep bank angle and sudden decrease in pitch attitude, it is likely the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane during the base-to-final turn in the traffic pattern.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11FA443 for the full record.