Maule M-5-210C accident near Santa Ana, California, May 22, 1999
On May 22, 1999 at about 3:08 am local time, a Maule M-5-210C, registered N51641, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne/Orange County 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 failure to maintain directional control and his excessive use of the rudder to regain runway alignment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1999 · about 3:08 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne/Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-210C · all M-5-210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N51641 · registry record · serial 6047L
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was practicing touch-and-go landings. He reported that the airplane landed right of centerline and he attempted to correct back to the center of the runway before initiating the takeoff. He said that he over corrected and ground looped the airplane. The pilot reported that the winds were from 180 degrees at 8 knots. He further reported that there were no mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane or engine, and that weather was not a factor.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,540 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1998; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D33A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA at 2:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19L, 2,887 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 am from SNA
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.
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.