- Date
- November 15, 1995, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wisdom, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5646ZMaule M-6-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951115047029A
- Case key
- 42311
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
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fence post. Factors include sunglare, slush covered terrain, and the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
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 stated that during the takeoff ground roll from a narrow driveway, he maneuvered the airplane to the left to avoid a deer. During this maneuver, the left wing collided with a fence post. The pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes and that the driveway was slick with snow and mud which made controlling the airplane difficult.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1995, at 0800 mountain standard time, a Maule M- 6-235, N5646Z, collided with a fence post during the takeoff ground roll from a driveway near Wisdom, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll from a narrow driveway, he maneuvered the airplane to the left to avoid a deer. During this maneuver, the left wing collided with a fence post. The pilot stated that the sun was in his eyes and the driveway was "slick with snow, mud and mud ruts which made the plane difficult to control."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5646Z
- Reported as
- Maule M-6-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7393C
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas A. Kimp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 30, 1995 · 25 hours before
- Destination
- 6S5 · Hamilton, MT
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 485 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.