Maule BEE DEE M-4-210 accident near Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts, June 5, 2013
On June 5, 2013 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Maule BEE DEE M-4-210, registered N9807M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts (The Bluffs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2013 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts · The Bluffs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule BEE DEE M-4-210 · all BEE DEE M-4-210s on the register
- Registration
- N9807M · no longer on the register · serial 1040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff climb from a private runway, several witnesses heard the airplane's engine "sputtering," but another witness heard the engine "running strong." All heard the impact; however, none observed the airplane on the departure roll or at impact. The airplane was found nose down within a row of trees about 300 feet past the steel pole. Postaccident examination of the runway revealed tire tracks, similar in dimension as the accident airplane's tires, leading from the runway to, and slightly past, a knocked over windsock steel pole. However, the tracks were also similar to those of a vehicle on the property. Further, it could not be determined when the pole was knocked down. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed a puncture in the right elevator in similar in dimension to the steel pole or a tree branch and long grass in the tailwheel assembly, similar to the grass near the windsock and where the airplane normally parked. Thus, the physical evidence on the airplane and near the windsock pole was inconclusive, and the investigation could not determine if the airplane struck the pole during the takeoff roll or not. Further examination of the airplane revealed that there were no preimpact anomalies noted with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Although trace amounts of an orange substance similar in color to lock-tite compound was located within the engine driven fuel pump, it is likely these specks were left in the solvent tank in which the pump was tested and inadvertently were drawn into the engine-driven fuel pump. It is likely that shortly after takeoff, the airplane entered a stalled condition and subsequent spin from which the pilot could not recover due to the low altitude.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,037 hours in all; 421 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360-A5B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Cuttyhunk MA at 2:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 1,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from MVY, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA13LA270.