Maule M-5-180C accident near Junction, Texas, April 19, 1985
On April 19, 1985 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-180C, registered N5655N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Junction, Texas (Kimble County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 19, 1985 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Junction, Texas · Kimble County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-180C · all M-5-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5655N · registry record · serial 8048C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER NORMAL APCH AND LANDING THE ACFT BEGAN VIBRATING WHEN THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN. THE ACFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AS THE AIRSPEED DECREASED BELOW 30 KTS. RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP AND DRAGGING OF A WING TIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAILWHEEL RETENTION ASS'Y WAS LOOSE. THE PLT HAD NOTICED THE ACFT WAS HARD TO TURN DURING TAXI PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND HE ADDED AIR TO THE TIRE. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED ON THE (TAILWHEEL) ASS'Y AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN IT WAS TIGHTENED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,520 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T17 Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,300 ft by 95 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.