Maule M-4-220C accident near Santa Ynez, California, March 18, 2023
On March 18, 2023 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1972 Maule M-4-220C, registered N40635, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Santa Ynez, California (Santa Ynez Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2023 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ynez, California · Santa Ynez Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C, built 1972 · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40635 · registry record · serial 2153C
- 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, while in a climb on the left crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the engine stopped producing power. He made a left turn toward the airport, activated the electric fuel pump, and changed the fuel selector valve position from the left-wing fuel tank to the right-wing fuel tank. Despite the pilot’s attempts, the engine would not restart, and the pilot made a forced landing in a vineyard. The pilot stated that he believes he unported the available fuel in the left tank while in the climbing left-hand turn. The left wing and left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,031 hours in all; 266 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 848 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,721.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2023; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6H-350-C1 (piston); 1,740 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 2,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KIZA
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIZA 181615Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/07 A3005 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA131.