Maule M-5-220C accident near Near Ocala, Florida, November 26, 1982
On November 26, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Maule M-5-220C, registered N2VB, was destroyed in an accident near Near Ocala, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 26, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Ocala, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-220C · all M-5-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2VB · registry record · serial 5051C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. HE SHUT DOWN FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO GLIDE TOWARD AN AIRPORT, BUT IT WAS TOO FAR AWAY. HE THEN SELECTED A FIELD, BUT HAD TO STAY HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH TO AVOID A TV ANTENNA. THE FIELD SLOPED DOWNHILL AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE PLANE ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE THE END. THEREFORE, HE PULLED THE PLANE UP AND CAME TO REST IN A TREE TOP. THE DOORS WERE JAMMED, SO HE BROKE OUT A WINDOW WITH HIS HANDS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED OUT AND DOWN A TREE, BUT THE PASSENGER (HIS WIFE) REMAINED IN THE TREE AND WAITED TO BE RESCUED. SHE WENT TO A HOSPITAL WHERE GASOLINE WAS RINSED OFF AND SHE WAS EXAMINED. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #3 PISTON PIN, FRANKLIN PN 20504F, HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL OF 367 HRS FLYING TIME.
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: 451 hours in all; 367 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 294 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 367 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNC Venice FL at 11:10 am
- Destination: HKY Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from GNV, 35 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.
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.