Maule M4-210C accident near Pickens, South Carolina, October 31, 1992
On October 31, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Maule M4-210C, registered N9861M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pickens, South Carolina (Pickens County airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL BEFORE TAKEOFF PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDED PLACING THE PROPELLER LEVER IN THE HIGH RPM LOW PITCH POSITION. THE PILOT ALSO DELAYED IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT AND APPLIED HARD BRAKING WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pickens, South Carolina · Pickens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M4-210C · all M4-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9861M · registry record · serial 1058C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED THREE LANDINGS AND WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED TO DEVELOP TAKEOFF POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF ABOUT 3300 FEET INTO THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AS THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKING, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE PROPELLER CONTROL LEVER WAS IN THE MID RANGE POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT CHECKLIST, THE PILOT IS INSTRUCTED TO PLACE THE PROPELLER CONTROL LEVER IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION BEFORE TAKEOFF. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 232 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1992; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LQK at 7:45 pm
- Destination: LQK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from GSP, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N9861M 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.