Maule M-4 accident near Monroe, Washington, September 3, 1983
On September 3, 1983, a Maule M-4, registered N4623T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroe, Washington (Flying F Ranch 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
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
- September 3, 1983
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · Flying F Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4 · all M-4s on the register
- Registration
- N4623T · registry record · serial 91
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS WITH A FRIEND THAT WAS A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). AFTER A LANDING, THE FRIEND INDICATED HIS DESIRE TO FLY THE ACFT. THE PLT OFFERED TO LET HIS FRIEND FLY IT FROM THE LEFT SEAT. THE FRIEND DECLINED THE OFFER TO CHANGE SEATS, BUT DID TAKE THE CONTROLS FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY, THE MAIN GEAR ENCOUNTERED TALL GRASS, AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 170 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA38 Monroe WA at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,100 ft by 34 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from BFI, 28 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 N4623T 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.