# Accident 19980913039239A: Maule M5235C, Mimbres, NM, September 13, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 1998, 16:00 local time
- Place: Mimbres, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0406° N, 107.9195° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0406&lon=-107.9195&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9218E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9218E-2016-02-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-5-235C (registry code 5460135, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5235C
- Reported engine: LYC O540J1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA395](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA395) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980913039239A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S ACCIDENT REPORT, HE DEPARTED A GRASS AIRSTRIP (3,000 FEET X 300 FEET, DIRT) EN ROUTE TO EL PASO, TEXAS. HE CLIMBED TO 200 FEET, MANEUVERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A VALLEY, THEN MADE A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO HEAD SOUTH AND THROUGH THE VALLEY. HE ENCOUNTERED 'A HARD CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT,' AND HE 'TURNED INTO THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF THIS CROSSWIND.' THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE AND 'BARELY' STRUCK THE GROUND. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID 80 FEET BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A LOG-LOADING MACHINE. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE AT DEMING, NEW MEXICO (ELEVATION 4,312 FEET MSL), LOCATED 44 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WAS 7,349 FEET MSL. THE PILOT SAID THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 6,200 FEET MSL. THE APPROXIMATE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 9,628 FEET MSL. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1998, AT 1700 MDT, N9218E, A MAULE M5-235C, OWNED BY MR. OMAR C. FULTON, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                      IMPACTED THE GROUND FOLLOWING DEPARTURE FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP IN MIMBRES, NM DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT.  VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FIL                                                      ED. THE AIRCRAFT RECIEVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PRIVATE STRIP ON 09/13/98 AT APPROXIMATELY 1655 MDT.

## 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 FTW98LA395](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA395), Sep 13, 1998: Maule M-5-235C (N9218E), Mimbres, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Factors were a low altitude turn into a crosswind and a high density altitude.

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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