# Accident 20260718011109A: Maule M-4-180V, Creede, CO, July 18, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 2026, 12:22 local time
- Place: Creede, CO
- Airport: Mineral County Memorial
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0000° N, 106.0000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-106.0000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N489LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N489LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-4-180V (registry code 5460136, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-180v) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (registry code 42283, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-180V
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-C1F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,650 total, 70 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260718011109A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266), Jul 18, 2026: Maule M-4-180V (N489LA), Creede, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing.

## Other reports on N489LA (1)

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

- [Incident 20150531011379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150531011379I), May 31, 2015: Maule M-4-180V (N489LA), Gavilan, NM, Minor damage. During landing roll-out, encountered gust which took aircraft over berm at edge of runway. Aircraft remained upright, but bent one gear leg.

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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