Maule M-4-220C accident near Ridgeway, Virginia, November 7, 2021
On November 7, 2021 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 1973 Maule M-4-220C, registered N51127, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ridgeway, Virginia (Pace 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 pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2021 · about 1:40 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Ridgeway, Virginia · Pace · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C, built 1973 · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51127 · registry record · serial 2188C
- 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 he conducted a walk-around of the airplane before boarding for the accident flight. After engine start, he noted more fuel in the right tank with the fuel totalizer reading 9.8 gallons and selected that tank for takeoff. After departure, while in the climb, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated he pitched the airplane forward and switched the fuel selector to both tanks just before they impacted trees at the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot turned off the power and closed the fuel selector valve before egressing the airplane. During a post-accident examination, the fuel strainer was drained and a trace amount of residual fuel was present. Three of the 4 wing tanks were opened with fuel in both left tanks, but the right inboard tank showed no fuel and the right outboard tank was inaccessible. Additionally, the airport owner reported that he met the pilot on the runway after the accident, and the pilot stated, “the engine quit”, and “fuel may have been an issue.” The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management other cases naming the fuel system
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,810 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 3,730 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2020; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A 350 C1 (piston); 1,855 hours total
The flight
- Destination: W88 Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 am from SIF, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSIF 071235Z AUTO 01004KT 10SM CLR 06/00 A3019 RMK AO2 T00581001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD Investigative Photographs Peter Wentz Air Safety Investigator Eastern Region Aviation Photographs
Photograph 2 – Accident airplane – Left side of airplane with pilot door open. Photograph 3 – Accident airplane – Right wing strut damage.
Photograph 4 – Accident airplane – View of the right side of the airplane.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on May 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Advocate Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N51127 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-4 207 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Franklin 6A 350 C1 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pace Airport · nearest airport
- Air Harbor Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,973 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA22LA052.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.