# NTSB FTW95LA378: Maule M5-210C, N51566, Westcliffe, CO, September 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1995, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Westcliffe, CO
- Location: 38.1342° N, 105.4653° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westcliffe, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1342&lon=-105.4653&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA378
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19570/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA378

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAXI. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE TAXIING TO PARKING, FOLLOWING LANDING, THE PILOT TURNED SHORT OF HIS ROUTE AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE TAXIWAY INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD 6 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1995, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Maule M5-210C, N51566, struck a ditch during taxi at Silver West Airport, West Cliffe, Colorado.  The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight.  No flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was taxiing to the ramp following landing when the accident occurred.

According to the pilot he turned too short and went off the taxiway into a ditch.  The pilot operator report provided information that the pilot had six hours total time in this make and model of aircraft prior to the accident flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51566](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51566-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N 6019C, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5-210C
- Registry model: [Maule M-5-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (registry code 5460134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6019C
- Airframe hours: 2174
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Richard C. Hepworth
- Registered owner: M5-220c Limited Liability Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1995, 50 hours before
- Departed: 4C03
- Airport: 4C03, Silver West, runway 31, 7,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,485 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALS, 40 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950902048949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902048949A), Sep 2, 1995: Maule M5210C, Silvercliffe, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Airman turned off runway onto what appeared to be the graded, unpaved taxiway to parking. Due to inadequate markings on this private airport, the area…

## Other investigations on N51566 (2)

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 ANC85LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA166), Sep 1, 1985: Maule M-5 (N51566), Cape Yakataga, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC77DAH14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAH14), Sep 13, 1977: Maule M-5 (N51566), Hayes River, AK, destroyed

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.

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