Maule M-4-220C accident near Bemidgi, Minnesota, August 1, 1997
On August 1, 1997 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Maule M-4-220C, registered N40354, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bemidgi, Minnesota (Beltrami County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure or inability to maintain directional control of the airplane, as a result of an undetermined anomaly concerning of the right main landing gear brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bemidgi, Minnesota · Beltrami County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40354 · registry record · serial 2132C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the approach and landing were normal. After a ground roll of 100 to 175 feet, the airplane veered to the right. It continued half way off the right side of the runway before coming to a stop. According to the pilot, a skid mark was visible on the runway. Postaccident inspection of the airplane after notification of the accident (14 days later) failed to reveal any failure/malfunction.
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: 479 hours in all; 434 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,016 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6H-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNH New Richmond WI at 1:00 pm
- Destination: BJI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 5,699 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N40354 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.