Maule M-5-180C accident near Houghton Lake, Michigan, July 22, 2001
On July 22, 2001 at about 2:44 pm local time, a Maule M-5-180C, registered N56646, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houghton Lake, Michigan (Houghton Heights Lake State 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 maintain directional control during the takeoff run. A factor relating to this accident was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2001 · about 2:44 pm local time
- Place
- Houghton Lake, Michigan · Houghton Heights Lake State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-180C · all M-5-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N56646 · registry record · serial 8084C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that during take off as the tail wheel was lifted off the runway, the airplane moved left abruptly. The pilot said he tried to turn right but instead hit a cone marking the left edge of the runway. The pilot said he pulled the power off but could not stop before hitting saplings. The pilot said the abrupt turn was likely caused by an unexpected crosswind gust or whirlwind that occurred at the same time the tail was lifted. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. At 0955, the winds reported at Roscommon County Airport, 5 miles from the accident site on a 065 degree heading, were calm.
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: 152 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5Y2 Houghton Lake MI at 2:44 pm
- Destination: Y91 Lake City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,750 ft by 104 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from HTL, 5 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.