Maule M6 accident near Lake Placid, New York, June 26, 1991
On June 26, 1991 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Maule M6, registered N56476, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Placid, New York (Lake Placid airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE WINDS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CONTROL INTERFERENCE FROM A PASSENGER AND GUSTY CROSSWINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1991 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Placid, New York · Lake Placid · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M6 · all M6s on the register
- Registration
- N56476 · no longer on the register · serial 7424C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING WITH A GUSTY CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT OF APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT CORRECTED TO THE LEFT, AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE. THE AIRPLANE THEN DRIFTED LEFT AND PARALLELED THE RUNWAY. POWER WAS APPLIED FOR A GO-AROUND BUT THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED ON THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED ON BOTH MAIN WHEELS AND CAME TO STOP, NOSING OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT SAID HIS SON IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT WAS BRACING HIMSELF ON THE RUDDER PEDALS.
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: 156 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ART Watertown NY at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N56476 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.