Maule M5-210TC accident near Olathe, Kansas, July 21, 1996
On July 21, 1996 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Maule M5-210TC, registered N5646N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olathe, Kansas (Johnson County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were the uncontrolled porpoise encountered and the pilot's lack of recent experience in tailwheel airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1996 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Olathe, Kansas · Johnson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M5-210TC · all M5-210TCs on the register
- Registration
- N5646N · registry record · serial 9010C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane bounce 6 to 9 times during landing. The airplane departed the side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane was equipped with tundra tires. There were no mechanical anomalies with the brakes or tailwheel found during the investigation. The pilot had received a 1.5 hour biennial flight review five days before the accident. His last recorded flight was 4 years before the flight review, and his last recorded tailwheel flight was 8 years before the flight review.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 508 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUS St. Louis MO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: OJC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,009 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from OJC
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.