Maule M4-210C accident near Willows, CA
On June 16, 2000, a Maule M4-210C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Willows, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 16, 2000
- Place
- Willows, CA
- Aircraft
- Maule M4-210C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.500°N, 122.280°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21254
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 16, 2000, about 0755 hours Pacific daylight time, a Maule M4-210C, N377BC, impacted a tomato field while maneuvering 1 mile southwest of the Willows-Glenn County Airport, Willows, California. The airplane, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot as a personal flight, was destroyed. The private pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane departed the Sonoma Valley Airport, Schellville/Sonoma, California, at 0700. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the Happy Camp, California, airport with an intermediate stop at the Willows-Glenn County Airport. The airplane was last in a group of six other airplanes traveling to the same destination. According to other pilots in the group, the purpose of the flight was to go camping. One of the pilots stated that the group consisted of four Cessna 180's, one Cessna 182, and the accident airplane. He indicated that the accident airplane was approximately 7 miles behind the rest of the group. Witnesses noted that while on approach to the airport (Willows-Glenn), someone on Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) told them to "hold on to the seat of their pants because it was very windy on the ground." WITNESS INFORMATION One of the pilots in the group stated that he heard the accident pilot report turning base to final on CTAF. He reported that he did not hear anything unusual in the accident pilot's voice, and that the accident pilot did not indicate that he was having any difficulties. A farmer stated that he was
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering in steep turns at low altitude in gusty and strong tailwind conditions, which lead to a wind shear encounter and a stall/spin. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention due to looking at antelope on the ground, and, his decision to attempt the steep turns at low altitude.
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Browse: California · Maule aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
