Maule M-4-180V accident near Creede, Colorado, July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026 at about 5:53 pm local time, a Maule M-4-180V, registered N489LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Creede, Colorado (Mineral County Meml 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 pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2026 · about 5:53 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Creede, Colorado · Mineral County Meml · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-180V · all M-4-180Vs on the register
- Registration
- N489LA · registry record · serial 47007T
- 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 the density altitude was about 11,000 ft mean sea level when he departed and the airplane entered a climb. While approaching mountainous terrain east of the airport, the airplane began descending and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot decided that it would be unsafe to turn back to his departure airport and decided to initiate a forced landing in a grass field between trees. The airplane impacted terrain during the landing attempt, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,604 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 630 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 2025; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 630 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C24 Creede CO at 5:45 pm
- Destination: OIN Oberlin KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 12:22 pm from KC24
Weather report (METAR): METAR KC24 181815Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 24/08 A3043 RMK AO2 T02400078 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N489LA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-4 207 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,345 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F 102 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mineral County Memorial · nearest airport
- Oberlin Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,483 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA266.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.