Maule M-5-210TC accident near Moab, Utah, September 13, 1987
On September 13, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Maule M-5-210TC, registered N5637D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moab, Utah (Canyon Lands 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
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
- September 13, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · Canyon Lands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210TC · all M-5-210TCs on the register
- Registration
- N5637D · registry record · serial 9004C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ABORTED HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21 AT CANYON LANDS AIRPORT WHEN HE HAD 'INDICATIONS OF A CROSSWIND.' THE PILOT RADIOED MOAB UNICOM AND REPORTED HE COULD NOT FIND THE WINDSOCK AND REQUESTED WIND INFORMATION. MOAB UNICOM REPORTED THEWIND WAS 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY.' DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG CROSSWIND GUST. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. AFTER GOING DOWN A STEEP GRADE, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: 900 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OOV Meadow Lake CO at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.