Maule M-5-210C accident near Clarksville, Virginia, September 29, 1988
On September 29, 1988 at about 10:25 am local time, a Maule M-5-210C, registered N325X, was destroyed in an accident near Clarksville, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AS A RESULT OF PILOT DISORIENTATION WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO CONDUCT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. LOW CLOUDS, POOR VISIBILITY, FOG AND POOR DECISION ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1988 · about 10:25 am local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210C · all M-5-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N325X · registry record · serial 6135C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED LOW CLOUDS, POOR VISIBILITY, AND FOG WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT CIRCLED THE AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED AND DECREASED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ACFT DESCENDED AND CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT. RECORDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE THE PLT'S INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. POST MORTEM EXAMS DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,019 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,306 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: CXE Chase City VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.