Maule M-5-235C accident near Moses Lake, Washington, June 28, 2003
On June 28, 2003 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N8070, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moses Lake, Washington (Moses Lake Muni 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
An improper flare which resulted in a bounced landing during landing. The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and soft terrain were factors which eventually led to the aircraft nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2003 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · Moses Lake Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8070 · registry record · serial 8070C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after touchdown the aircraft bounced. The pilot added power to prevent another bounce and felt that a gust of wind pushed the aircraft to the right side of the runway into the soft sand. The pilot realized that he could not get full power because the carburetor heat was on. The pilot turned off the carburetor heat and reported that "the plane lost power." The pilot pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. The nearest weather reporting facility located five nautical miles northwest of the accident airport reported the winds from 70 degrees at eight knots. The pilot was landing on runway 34.
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: 306 hours in all; 89 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4-B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: W20 Moses Lake WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from MWH, 5 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N8070 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.