Maule M-4-220C accident near Romeoville, Illinois, December 11, 1990
On December 11, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Maule M-4-220C, registered N40614, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeoville, Illinois. 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION RESULTING IN POWER LOSS FROM FUEL CONTAMINATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OWNER'S FAILURE TO ACCOMPLISH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 84-9-7 WHICH PROVIDED DIRECT, CONVENIENT ACCESS TO SAMPLE AND PURGE THE MAIN FUEL TANKS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Romeoville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40614 · registry record · serial 2138C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE DRAINED 8 VIALS OF WATER FROM THE LOW-POINT FUEL DRAINS ON THE FUSELAGE BEFORE FUEL RAN CLEAR. THE ENGINE RUNUP SHOWED SOME ROUGHNESS, SO THE PILOT CONTINUED THE RUNUP UNTIL THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY. THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBOUT AND A SUSTAINED TURN. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED WATER CONTAMINATION THROUGHOUT. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN RETROFITTED WITH QUICK DRAIN VALVES IN PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL 1/8-INCH NPT SUMP PLUGS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANKS, AS MANDATED IN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 84-9-7. THE PILOT IS THE AIRPLANE OWNER AND IS AN AIRFRAME-AND-POWERPLANT MECHANIC.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,686 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4.6 in the last 30 days; 3,967 as pilot in command; 292 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,786 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin GA-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOT at 8:20 pm
- Destination: MDW
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from DPA, 175 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.