Maule M-4-210C accident near Burnt Chimney, Virginia, August 9, 1987
On August 9, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Maule M-4-210C, registered N51436, was destroyed in an accident near Burnt Chimney, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 9, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burnt Chimney, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-210C · all M-4-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51436 · registry record · serial 1101C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A 1400 FT GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE PLT LATER STATED THAT DURING THE LNDG ROLL THE PASSG ALERTED HIM TO THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT STOP ON THE RWY. THIS CAUSED THE PLT TO START A GO-AROUND FOLLOWED BY A 2ND ATTEMPT TO STOP. THE PLT SAID HE THEN REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT STOP AND RE-ATTEMPTED THE GO-AROUND. DURING THE CLIMB A POWER LINE BLOCKED THE ACFTS PATH SO THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER THE WIRES. DURING THIS MANEUVER THE ACFTS RT WING STRUCK A TREE AND THE ACFT DESCENDED TO COLLIDE WITH THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 318 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 223 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 539 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROA Roanoke VA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 1,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from ROA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.