Maule M6-235 accident near Arcade, New York, July 1, 1991
On July 1, 1991 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Maule M6-235, registered N43LH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcade, New York (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER LIFT-OFF SPEED DURING A TAKEOFF ON A GRASS RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH POWER LINES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1991 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Arcade, New York · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M6-235 · all M6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N43LH · registry record · serial 7499 C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE CALM AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. HE DID NOT ATTAIN PROPER GROUNDSPEED BEFORE ROTATING THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES.
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: 2,100 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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 O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OLE Olean NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.