Maule M-4 accident near Salina, Kansas, May 9, 1994
On May 9, 1994 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Maule M-4, registered N12016, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salina, Kansas (Salina 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1994 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Kansas · Salina Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4 · all M-4s on the register
- Registration
- N12016 · registry record · serial 26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED, AND THE PILOT DIVERTED TO SALINA, KS, FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 35 WITH A WIND FROM 050 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS (17.25 MPH). THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 20 MPH. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FROM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE CONTROLLED AIRPORT HAD 2 OTHER RUNWAYS (4/22 & 12/30). THE PILOT HAD ONLY 7 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
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: 160 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 103 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,043 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 1:00 pm
- Destination: HYS Hays KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 13,337 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:40 pm from SLN
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.