Maule M-7-260C accident near Paso Robles, California, March 28, 2004
On March 28, 2004 at about 7:34 pm local time, a Maule M-7-260C, registered N99KJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paso Robles, California (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel system vapor lock due to the failure of the left exhaust stack clamp pin, which caused a separation of the exhaust stack from the muffler and the porting of hot exhaust gases onto the fuel lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2004 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-260C · all M-7-260Cs on the register
- Registration
- N99KJ · registry record · serial 30009C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost engine power during takeoff from a private airstrip and collided with the ground during the ensuing forced landing attempt. During the initial takeoff climb, approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered. The pilot changed the fuel tank selector from the "BOTH" position to the "RIGHT" position and adjusted the mixture control. Partial power returned momentarily; shortly thereafter, the engine lost power again. During the forced landing on uneven terrain, the right wing impacted the ground. Post-accident examination revealed that the left muffler's exhaust stack was detached from the manifold. The exhaust stack is secured to the exhaust manifold outlet tube with a pin. This pin was eroded and no longer secured the two pieces together. Evidence of heat was found on the fuel lines and plastic tubing in the area of the exhaust stack. According to the AC 65-12A, vapor lock can be induced by high fuel temperatures and result in a partial or complete loss of power. A post-accident test run of the engine did not reveal any operating anomalies or malfunctions.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 4, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2003; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Paso Robles CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KPRB, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 LAX04LA171.