Maule M-7-235 accident near Lake City, South Carolina, November 14, 1993
On November 14, 1993 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Maule M-7-235, registered N9226M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake City, South Carolina (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH TREES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1993 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Lake City, South Carolina · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-235 · all M-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9226M · no longer on the register · serial 4109C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A SHORT LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT RETURNED TO HIS PERSONALLY OWNED AIRSTRIP FOR LANDING. THE PILOT SET UP THE APPROACH FOR A SHORT FIELD LANDING. ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE HAD SELECTED AN IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WHICH PLACED A GROUP OF TREES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY OVER THE TREES AND CONTINUE THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREES AND CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY. A POST-IMPACT FIRE OCCURRED AFTER THE PILOT EXITED 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 196 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1992; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from FLO, 8 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.