# Accident 19980606012409A: Maule M5220C, Kettle Falls, WA, June 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 1998, 10:00 local time
- Place: Kettle Falls, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.7195° N, 117.9591° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7195&lon=-117.9591&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16CB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16CB-2012-08-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-5-220C (registry code 5460133, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-220c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A&6V335 series (registry code 27020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a-6v335-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5220C
- Reported engine: FRNKLN 6A350C1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 2,750 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980606012409A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, 2 POB SUFFERED FATAL INJ ACFT HAS UNKNOWN DAMAGE, KETTLE FALLS, WA. (-23) AFTER PHOTO FLIGHT BUZZED GROUND CREW, ATTEMPTED A ROLL.  STRUCK WATER.  BROKE UP AND SANK. (.4) WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE AIRPLANE PERFORMING MANEUVERS THAT WERE DESCRIBED AS AEROBATIC PRIOR TO IMPACT ABOUT 35 DEGREES NOSE DOWN, AND PROVIDED A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OF THE AIRPLANE IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE.  THIS AIRPLANE IS NOT APPROVED FOR AEROBATIC MANEUVERS.   THE FUSELAGE, ENGINE AND PROPELLER, AND ONE WING WERE RECOVERED FROM 90 FEET OF WATER FOR INSPECTION BY FAA INSPECTORS.  RECORDS INDICATED THAT THIS AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY HAD STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO THE STEEL TUBING STRUCTURE.  THOSE AREAS, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE STRUCTURE AND WING AND WING-STRUT ATTACHMENT POINTS WERE INSPECTED BY FAA INSPECTORS AND AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR.  NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF PRE-IMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE.                      (-23) ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERING AFTER PHOTO MISSION, "BUZZED" THE GROUND CREW, ATTEMPTED A ROLL AND STRUCK WATER. AIRCRAFT BROKE-UP AND SANK.

## 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 SEA98FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA090), Jun 6, 1998: Maule M-5-220C (N16CB), Kettle Falls, WA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. A factor was an attempt to perform aerobatics at low altitude.

## Other reports on N16CB (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19931003037339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931003037339A), Oct 3, 1993: Maule M5220C (N16CB), Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Swerved on landing. Student saya CFI failed correct. CFI says tried to correct but student froze on control.
- [Accident 19930228003839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930228003839A), Feb 28, 1993: Maule M5220C (N16CB), Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Drifted left on flare. Elected go around. Drifted right. Struck wind indicator. Caused flutter due wing damage.
- [Incident 19810927071859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810927071859I), Sep 27, 1981: Maule M5220C (N16CB), Columbia, MD, Minor damage. Engine failed on climb at 500 ft, landed on next farm. Engine had a broken connecting rod wrist pin.

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.

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