Maule M-5-180 accident near Erie, Colorado, April 15, 1987
On April 15, 1987 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-180, registered N84KG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Tri-County airport). It was a business 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1987 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-180 · all M-5-180s on the register
- Registration
- N84KG · registry record · serial 8047C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT HAD COMPLETED A LANDING FROM A BUSINESS FLT. ON LANDING ROLL A STRONG WIND GUST FROM THE LEFT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN LEFT. THE PLT ADDED FULL PWR AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT WAS TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT AND CROSSED THE RWY, DEPARTING THE RWY TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE EDGE OF A CONCRETE TAXIWAY AND WAS DAMAGED. THE ACFT THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT MLG COLLAPSED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 639 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 549 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Spring CO at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 48V Erie CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,280 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from BJC, 8 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.