Maule M-5-210C accident near Juneau, Alaska, May 6, 2013
On May 6, 2013 at about 3:30 am local time, a Maule M-5-210C, registered N378X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Juneau, Alaska (Juneau International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2013 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · Juneau International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210C · all M-5-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N378X · no longer on the register · serial 6178C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from a dry, paved runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane; the takeoff required a correction for a 5-knot, right crosswind. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied right rudder to correct the veer, but the airplane subsequently ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK
- Destination: PAJN Juneau AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 26, 8,457 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PAJN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N378X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.