Maule M-6-235 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, April 11, 1984
On April 11, 1984 at about 3:03 pm local time, a Maule M-6-235, registered N71MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- April 11, 1984 · about 3:03 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6-235 · all M-6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N71MS · registry record · serial 7452C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON A X-WIND LANDING, THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT BEGAN TO WEATHERVANED TO THE LEFT INTO THE WIND. THE PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL & THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED & THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED ON THE GROUND. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 3500 HRS IN A PIPER PA-18, A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT. HOWEVER, HE HAD JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THE MAULE M-6-235 & HAD ONLY 20 HRS TOTAL TIME IN THAT ACFT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 4,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:11 pm from NEW
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.
Other NTSB records under N71MS 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.