Maule M-5-235C accident near Eastsound, Washington, July 27, 2023
On July 27, 2023, a 1978 Maule M-5-235C, registered N6201M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Eastsound, Washington (Orcas Island Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper in-flight fuel management, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2023 · cases in 2023
- Place
- Eastsound, Washington · Orcas Island Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C, built 1978 · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6201M · registry record · serial 7198C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On final approach, the engine sputtered, lost fuel pressure, then lost all power. With the total loss of power, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence and subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that there were about 15 gallons of fuel on board before he departed on the first of two sightseeing flights and that the left tank had substantially more fuel than the right tank. When the airplane wreckage was recovered, about 10 gallons of fuel reportedly were drained. According to the airplane manufacturer, about 3 gallons of this fuel would have been unusable, and it is likely one of the fuel tanks was nearly empty. However, the investigation was unable to determine the actual fuel quantity in the airplane’s tanks because the pilot recovered and moved the airplane wreckage without oversight by federal officials. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot likely not managing the fuel on board properly, resulting in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,625.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J2A5D (piston); 2,710 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Eastsound WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KORS, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KORS 270035Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM CLR 19/14 A3010 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Recovered airplane as viewed from the right side.
Photograph 2 – Airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder damage as viewed from the rear.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandums for Record | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Fuel Quantity Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6201M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-5 364 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J2A5D 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Orcas Island Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,568 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR23LA285.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.