Maule M-4-220C N51127

Summary

On 7 November 2021 at about 13:40 local time, a Maule M-4-220C registered N51127 was involved in an accident near Ridgeway, Virginia, United States. One person was 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

7 November 2021 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeway, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Pace (VA02)

Coordinates

36.5810, -79.8781

Aircraft

Maule M-4-220C

Registration

N51127

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Greensboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA052

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he conducted a walk-around of the airplane before boarding for the accident flight. After engine start, he noted more fuel in the right tank with the fuel totalizer reading 9.8 gallons and selected that tank for takeoff. After departure, while in the climb, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated he pitched the airplane forward and switched the fuel selector to both tanks just before they impacted trees at the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot turned off the power and closed the fuel selector valve before egressing the airplane. During a post-accident examination, the fuel strainer was drained and a trace amount of residual fuel was present. Three of the 4 wing tanks were opened with fuel in both left tanks, but the right inboard tank showed no fuel and the right outboard tank was inaccessible. Additionally, the airport owner reported that he met the pilot on the runway after the accident, and the pilot stated, “the engine quit”, and “fuel may have been an issue.” The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.