Maule M-5-210 incident near Atlanta, Georgia, April 11, 1992
On April 11, 1992 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-210, registered N51590, suffered minor damage in an incident near Atlanta, Georgia. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER AS A RESULT OF CYLINDER OVERTEMPERATURE, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE IMPROPER PROCEDURE OF USE OF THE AIRCRAFT IN A BANNER TOWING OPERATION BY THE OPERATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1992 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210 · all M-5-210s on the register
- Registration
- N51590 · registry record · serial 6036C
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN A BANNER TOWING OPERATION WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A PARKING LOT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE DUE TO HEAT STRESS. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED WITH AN ADDITIONAL OIL COOLER IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN OIL TEMPERATURE WITHIN OPERATING RANGE DURING BANNER TOW OPERATIONS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,355 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D33A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Ads, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from FTY, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.