Maule M-5-180C accident near Bennington, Vermont, March 31, 2002
On March 31, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Maule M-5-180C, registered N711JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bennington, Vermont (William H. Morse State Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bennington, Vermont · William H. Morse State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-180C · all M-5-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N711JR · registry record · serial 8064C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing on runway 31, a 3,704 foot-long, 75 foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot said the airport's wind sock indicated a 90 degree left crosswind, at an estimated speed of 10 miles per hour, and after a normal touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the drift; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and flipped over. Winds reported at the airport, about 30 minutes after the accident, were from 20 degrees at 6 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,857 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,857 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,041.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 2001; 20.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4V8 West Dover VT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: DDH Bennington VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,704 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from DDH
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.