Maule M5-235C accident near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1991
On November 2, 1991 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Maule M5-235C, registered N5634K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. It was a business 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, RESULTING IN CARBURETOR ICE AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN TREES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1991 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M5-235C · all M5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5634K · no longer on the register · serial 7273C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS TOWING A BANNER, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TREES. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE SAID HE DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HEAT. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 62F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 52F. ACCORDING TO THE FAA CHART, THESE CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 15 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 1,400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,659 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1991; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kutztown Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: N31 Kutztown PA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°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.