20260718011109A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Maule M-4-180V · Creede, CO · July 18, 2026

Date: July 18, 2026 · 12:22 local
Place: Creede, CO
Airport: Mineral County Memorial
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N489LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR26LA266
Reported as: Maule M-4-180V
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,650 total70 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N489LARegistered now · Maule M-4-180VS/N 47007T Airframe modelMaule M-4-180V Engine modelLycoming O-360-C1FReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot stated that he took off from Mineral County Memorial Airport (C24) and planned to climb over mountain terrain and fly to oberlin, KS for next fuel stop. Pilot was aware of density altitude being approximately 11,000 ft. MSL., and limited fuel to 48 gallons. Aircraft was initially climbing then, in the mountains east of the airport, started to descend instead of continuing to climb. Pilot decided a 180-degree turn around was unsafe due to terrain and altitude loss. Pilot was forced to land in a nearby grass field between trees. Aircraft was destroyed due to objects on ground. No occupants were injured.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF FROM MINERAL COUNTY MEMORIAL AIRPORT (C24) AND PLANNED TO CLIMB OVER MOUNTAIN TERRAIN AND FLY TO OBERLIN, KS FOR NEXT FUEL STOP. PILOT WAS AWARE OF DENSITY ALTITUDE BEING APPROXIMATELY 11,000 FT. MSL., AND LIMITED FUEL TO 48 GALLONS. AIRCRAFT WAS INITIALLY CLIMBING THEN, IN THE MOUNTAINS EAST OF THE AIRPORT, STARTED TO DESCEND INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO CLIMB. PILOT DECIDED A 180-DEGREE TURN AROUND WAS UNSAFE DUE TO TERRAIN AND ALTITUDE LOSS. PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A NEARBY GRASS FIELD BETWEEN TREES. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DUE TO OBJECTS ON GROUND. NO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR26LA266Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openSapinero, COJul 18, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N489LA · 1

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

Incident 20150531011379ILanding: Rollout · Gavilan, NMDuring landing roll-out, encountered gust which took aircraft over berm at edge of runway. Aircraft remained upright, but bent one gear leg.May 31, 2015 · Minor damage