Maule M-5-235C accident near Monroe, Washington, April 12, 2008
On April 12, 2008 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N9277E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Monroe, Washington (Firstair Field). 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2008 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · Firstair Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9277E · registry record · serial 7154C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout, a moderate right crosswind gust of 7 to 8 knots affected the airplane, causing it to drift left. The pilot applied right rudder to compensate; however, as he applied more and repeated right rudder pressure the airplane continued to drift left. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, onto a grass shoulder, then nosed over into the drainage ditch. The pilot stated that the passenger in the copilot's seat was very nervous and tense throughout the flight, and with the sudden left movement of the airplane after landing, the passenger may have tensed up, inadvertently blocked the rudder pedals with his feet.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,133.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KW27 Woodland WA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: KW16 Monroe WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 2,095 ft by 34 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KPAE, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.