Maule M-7-235 N5662S

Summary

On 14 September 1997 at about 19:15 local time, a Maule M-7-235 registered N5662S was involved in an accident near Louisville, Mississippi, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 1997 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Louisville Winston County (LMS)

Coordinates

33.1195, -89.0506

Aircraft

Maule M-7-235

Registration

N5662S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA244

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to assure that the rudder trim was properly set for takeoff and his delay in aborting the takeoff when the airplane yawed to the left during the early portion of the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll after the tail was raised, the airplane 'darted' to the left. He applied full right rudder but continued the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the left side of the runway, became airborne momentarily, then the left wing collided with trees 10-12 feet agl. The pilot then attempted to return to the runway but the airplane descended, impacted the runway edge with the left main landing gear which caused the left wheel to separate. The airplane then traveled across the runway off the right side into a 25-foot deep ditch and came to rest. Post crash examination of the cockpit by the pilot revealed that the right rudder trim was disengaged from its normal fully engaged position for takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.