Maule M-6-235 accident near Salome, Arizona, June 12, 1997
On June 12, 1997 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Maule M-6-235, registered N5653C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salome, Arizona (Private Airstrip 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. The gusty crosswind condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1997 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 1997
- Place
- Salome, Arizona · Private Airstrip · 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-6-235 · all M-6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N5653C · registry record · serial 7457C
- 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 was landing on runway 27, when the aircraft encountered a strong crosswind gust from the southwest and ground looped. He estimated the winds were from 200 degrees at 20 knots with occasional gusts to 30 knots.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2AZ1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BLH, 48 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5653C on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-6 81 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 4,223 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Indian Hills Airpark · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 466 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,435 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX97LA208.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.