Maule M5-235C accident near Ravenswood, West Virginia, April 26, 1985
On April 26, 1985 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Maule M5-235C, registered N29JD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenswood, West Virginia (Jackson CO. airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1985 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenswood, West Virginia · Jackson CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M5-235C · all M5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N29JD · registry record · serial 7460-C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LDG ROLL THE STD PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT & RAN OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE RWY WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH & GO LDG WITH CFI.THE CFI STATED THAT THE STD MADE A NORMAL APPROACH & UPON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT MADE A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,344 hours in all; 144 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 144 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-JIA5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I18 at 3:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.