Maule M-5-235C accident near Silverton, Oregon, June 27, 1983
On June 27, 1983 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N6205M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Silverton, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1983 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Silverton, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6205M · no longer on the register · serial 7197C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO 1000 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE QUIT AND SWITCHING BACK TO THE LEFT TANK DID NOT HELP. THE PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT TOOK OVER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING WHICH WAS HARD ENOUGH TO COLLAPSE THE LANDING GEAR. THE TWO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS RECEIVED SERIOUS BACK INJURIES FROM THE LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT SHOWED WATER IN THE CARBURETOR AND IN BOTH MAIN TANKS ALONG WITH RUST AND SEDIMENTTHE ACFT WAS REFUELED FROM A TANK ON THEIR FARM WHICH WAS ALSO CONTAMINATED WITH WATER, RUST AND SEDIMENT. THE FILTERS IN THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT PREVENT WATER FROM COMING OUT THE DISPENSING NOZZLE AND THE FILTERS WERE REPLACED ONLY ONCE A YEAR. THE FILTERS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO STOP WATER. THE FARM SUPPLY TANK HAD SAT OUTDOORS PRIOR TO BEING FILLED.
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: 347 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 323 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 369 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1982; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Private Strip OR at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.