- Date
- May 27, 1989, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kutztown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5669YMaule M5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890527012959A
- Case key
- 36411
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An off airport landing in unsuitable terrain due to a power loss for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had just taken off during a glider towing operation when he experienced a power loss. The pilot released the glider and then the engine quit. He landed in a rock quarry, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. The investigation revealed no discrepancies with the aircraft or the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5669Y
- Reported as
- Maule M5
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M52357487C
- Airframe hours
- 800
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kutztown Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 8, 1988 · 200 hours before
- Airport
- N31 · Kutztown, runway 17, 1,930 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 250 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.