Maule M-5-235C accident near Sunriver, Oregon, March 16, 1996
On March 16, 1996 at about 3:40 am local time, a Maule M-5-235C, registered N563UC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sunriver, Oregon (Sunriver 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of a tree near the edge of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1996 · about 3:40 am local time
- Place
- Sunriver, Oregon · Sunriver Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N563UC · no longer on the register · serial 7245C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that upon touchdown he felt a 'tremendous tailwheel shimmy' and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane began to veer off the right edge of the runway. The pilot stated that he applied full power to regain rudder authority. As the airplane headed back onto the runway, the right wing impacted a pine tree. The left wing then impacted terrain and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and an examination of the tailwheel did not disclose evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 154 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,604 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 1995; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 1:20 am
- Destination: S21
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 5,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:36 am from RDM, 30 miles away
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.