# Accident 19970503007649A: Maule M5210C, West Fargo, ND, May 3, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 1997, 09:30 local time
- Place: West Fargo, ND
- Airport: West Fargo Utility Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8692° N, 96.8909° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8692&lon=-96.8909&mi=10
- Aircraft: N290X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N290X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-5-210C (registry code 5460134, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5210C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970503007649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON TAXIWAY WHEN IT SETTLED INTO WATER AT EDGE OF TAXIWAY AND FLIPPED OVER. (-23) THE OWNER/PILOT CONDUCTED THE FLIGHT UNDER CFR 14 PART 91 TO RE-POSITION THE AIRCRAFT TO ITS HOME AIRPORT WHERE A HANGAR FOR THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MOVED EARLIER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FLOOD DAMAGE.  ON APPROACH TO A TAXIWAY THAT WAS BEING USED AS A TEMPORARY RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO SHALLOW WATER THAT SURROUNDED THE TAXIWAY END ON THREE SIDES.  THE TAXIWAY WAS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO A ROW OF HANGARS.  THE CRASH SITE WAS IMMEDIATELY DOWN WIND FROM THE HANGARS.  THE WIND BLOWING OVER THE HANGARS PRODUCED TURBULENCE AND POSSIBLE WIND SHEARING EFFECT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE INTO THE SHALLOW WATER AND FLIP OVER, COMING TO REST ON THE INTENDED TAXIWAY/RUNWAY.  NO INJURIES RESULTED AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  NO FIRE ENSUED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA120), May 3, 1997: Maule M-5 (N290X), West Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable wind conditions, and the terrain…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.