# NTSB WPR26LA266: Maule M-4-180V, N489LA, Sapinero, CO, July 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: July 18, 2026, 11:53 local (17:53 UTC)
- Place: Sapinero, CO
- Coordinates: 38.466667, -107.33333
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4667&lon=-107.3333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA266
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203420/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-180V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=5460136), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N489LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N489LA), registered now, S/N 47007T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-180V
- Registry model: [Maule M-4-180V](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-180v) (registry code 5460136) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1f) (registry code 42283, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47007T
- Airframe hours: 630
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Red Baron LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 2025, 30 hours before
- Departed: C24, Creede, CO
- Destination: OIN, Oberlin, KS
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KC24
- METAR: METAR KC24 181815Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 24/08 A3043 RMK AO2 T02400078 $=

## 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 20260718011109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260718011109A), Jul 18, 2026: Maule M-4-180V, Creede, CO, Destroyed. 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.…

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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