Maule M-5-235C accident near La Porte, Texas, February 14, 2010
On February 14, 2010 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N56347, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Municipal 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2010 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N56347 · registry record · serial 7277C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was returning from a short personal flight when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and landed short of the runway and flipped over. The engine was test run using the airplane's existing fuel system. The engine started and ran through its entire powerband without hesitation. A functional test of the carburetor heat and both magnetos were normal, and all engine gauges indicated normal readings. No mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine or the fuel system. The cause of the power loss could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,139 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 25, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2009; 73 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 La Porte TX at 9:30 pm
- Destination: T41 La Porte TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 12, 4,165 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from EFD, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.