# Accident 19980723046029A: Maule M5235C, Newburg, ME, July 23, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 1998, 09:00 local time
- Place: Newburg, ME
- Airport: Millers
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7514° N, 68.9828° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MILLER'S FLD (ME74), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7514&lon=-68.9828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5643V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5643V-1999-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-5-235C (registry code 5460135, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5235C
- Reported engine: LYC O540J1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 484 total, 66 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980723046029A

## Narrative

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

(.4) DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON RUNWAY 36, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED DEEP, GROUND SCARS SIMILAR TO THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GRASS STRIP IN THE RUN-UP AREA.  THERE WERE GROUND SCARS SIMILAR TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ON THE WET, TALL, UNMOWED GRASS STRIP, FOR ABOUT 800 FEET WHERE THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED ON THE RUNWAY, THEN THE GROUND SCARS VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT IN THE VICINITY OF THE TREES.  THE PILOT SAID HE RULED OUT ANY ON GROUND DIRECTIONAL CORRECTION, '...THE WIND CAUSED A FURTHER DRIFT TO THE LEFT OF 36 AND PUT THE AIRCRAFT IN A DIRECT PATH TO THE TREE LINE...IT WAS MY INTENTION TO CLIMB OVER THE TREES.  THOUGH THE ENGINE SOUNDS INDICATED NO ANOMALIES, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO BE DELIVERING NORMAL THRUST...I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CLEARING THE TREES WOULD NOT BE AN OPTION...I THEREFORE OPTED FOR A CONTROLLED CRASH INTO THE TREES.'  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE.   (-23) ON A VFR LOCAL FLIGHT, PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF.  AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY, BECAME AIRBORNE AND STRU CK TREES. PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 IAD98LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA083), Jul 23, 1998: Maule M-5-235C (N5643V), Newburg, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Related factors were the long, wet, unmowed grass runway.

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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