Maule M-5-180C accident near Moultrie, Georgia, December 23, 1992
On December 23, 1992 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-180C, registered N1TK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moultrie, Georgia (Spence airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL) AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1992 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Moultrie, Georgia · Spence · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-180C · all M-5-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1TK · no longer on the register · serial 8057C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED AFTER HE BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL THE TAIL WHEEL CAME OFF THE GROUND AND THE LEFT WING DROPPED. THE PILOT APPLIED AFT PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL STICK AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE IN A NOSE UP ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE ROTATED AROUND ITS VERTICAL AXIS TO THE LEFT, THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 502 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-CIF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MUL at 3:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from ABY, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.