Maule M-5-235C accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N386X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield Muni). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N386X · registry record · serial 7029C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PREFLT WX BRIEFING, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF POSSIBLE MODERATE ICING IN CLOUDS FROM THE SURFACE TO 4000 FT. WHILE IN FLT, STRUCTURAL ICING CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED & RIME ICE ACCUMULATED ON THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, CARB ICE CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED & FULL CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED. THE ACFT WAS GETTING NEAR THE DESTINATION, SO THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE. HE TURNED THE CARB HEAT OFF FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN ABOUT 8 MI FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT, HE TURNED IT BACK ON. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE ARPT, ICE BEGAN ACCUMULATING RAPIDLY ON THE WINGS, TIRES, STRUTS & WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS ALMOST TOTALLY COVERED WITH ICE. AFTER ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND, THE PLT TURNED BASE WITH ABOUT 16 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ENG LOST POWER & WOULD NOT RESTART. AN EMERG LANDING WAS MADE IN A SMALL FIELD SHORT OF THE RWY WHERE THE GEAR COLLAPSED BEFORE THE ACFT STOPPED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 472 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 348 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 445 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 28, 1984; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaithersburg MD at 6:10 pm
- Destination: PSF Pittsfield MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from PSF, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N386X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.