Maule M-4 accident near Csttltn-Hdsn, New York, May 19, 1989
On May 19, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Maule M-4, registered N4713T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Csttltn-Hdsn, New York (Csttltn-Hdsn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE WET, SOFT GRASS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Csttltn-Hdsn, New York · Csttltn-Hdsn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4 · all M-4s on the register
- Registration
- N4713T · registry record · serial 56
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A MAULE ML-4 SUSPECTED A CARBURETOR PROBLEM AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A SOD SURFACED, CLOSED AIRPORT. HE GROUND RAN THE ENGINE WITH NO PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO MAKE A TAKEOFF. HE ASKED A PERSON WHO WAS MOWING THE GRASS NEARBY TO CUT THE GRASS IN A 10 FOOT BY 1000 FOOT SWATH. THE GRASS WAS CUT AND THE TAKEOFF INITIATED, HOWEVER TAKEOFF SPEED COULD NOT BE ATTAINED AND THE MAIN WHEELS WERE SINKING INTO THE GROUND. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, IT NOSED OVER.
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: 240 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bennington VT at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Petersburg NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
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.