Maule M-5-210C N325X
29 September 1988 · Clarksville, Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 29 September 1988 at about 10:25 local time, a Maule M-5-210C registered N325X was involved in an accident near Clarksville, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 10:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clarksville, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.6198, -78.5598
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210C
- Registration
- N325X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Chase City
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- BFO88FA085
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AS A RESULT OF PILOT DISORIENTATION WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO CONDUCT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. LOW CLOUDS, POOR VISIBILITY, FOG AND POOR DECISION ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES REPORTED LOW CLOUDS, POOR VISIBILITY, AND FOG WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT CIRCLED THE AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED AND DECREASED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ACFT DESCENDED AND CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT. RECORDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE THE PLT'S INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. POST MORTEM EXAMS DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Maule M-5 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 1988 | Maule M-5-210C | Kukaklek, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 1988 | Maule M-5-235 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Fansler, Owen D. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Sep 1988 | Maule M-5-235C | Porcupine Butte, Alaska, United States | Thomas J. Bay | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1987 | Maule M-5-180C | Madison, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1989 | Maule M-5-210C | Calexico, California, United States | Flynn, Donald | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1987 | Maule M-5-180 | Erie, Colorado, United States | Karl A. Sutterfield | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1988 | Beechcraft C23 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 May 1988 | Cessna 150J | Winchester, Virginia, United States | Charles S. Guenther | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1988 | Mooney M-20J | Yorktown, Virginia, United States | Thomas A. Gurkin | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1988 | Cessna 172RG | Mathew, Virginia, United States | Mideastern Airways Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1988 | Piper PA-28-181 | Reedville, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1988 | Travel Air D4D | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |