Date:	Friday 30 June 1989
Time:	17:44
Type:	Maule MX-7-180 Star Rocket
Owner/operator:	Iowa State Highway Patrol
Registration:	N6131M
MSN:	11062C
Total airframe hrs:	113 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360-C1F
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Atlantic, Iowa -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Survey
Departure airport:	Atlantic, Iowa (AIO/KAIO)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED BY THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TO SEARCH FOR A MISSING PERSON. GROUND SEARCHERS IN THE AREA REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL, WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP BANK, APPROACHING 90 DEGREES. THE TURN WAS MADE TO CIRCLE BACK & KEEP SIGHT OF SOMEONE BELIEVED TO BE THE MISSING PERSON.

WHILE TURNING, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & IMPACTED THE GROUND. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURES.

CAUSE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM A STALL.

1. NTSB Identification: MKC89GA147 at http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001213X28625&key=1&queryId=3120b427-6fd9-4787-9396-604da3a3b206&pgno=1&pgsize=50
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=6131M

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
24-Oct-2008 10:30	ASN archive	Added
18-Aug-2016 19:09	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Location, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ]
18-Aug-2016 19:18	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, ]
21-Dec-2016 19:23	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ]
24-Jan-2024 15:04	Rushtopj	Updated [Aircraft type, ]