Maule M-4 Safety Record

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as result of the pilot's improper fuel calculations, and his inadequate in-flight planning decision. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to complete an emergency pre-landing checklist, which resulted in a fuel surge during his first attempted landing into the field.

The pilot's inadvertent use of diesel fuel in a gasoline engine which resulted in a partial loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing after takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane that failed to detect the presence of diesel fuel in the fuel supply.

The inadvertent activation of the parking brake and locking of the right brake. A contributing factor was the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known malfunction of the right brake system.

Inadequate preflight inspection/preparation of the aircraft by the pilot and consequent foreign object fouling of the rudder control, rendering directional control impossible. A factor was the pilot's distraction/preoccupation with personal problems.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. A factor in the accident was the pilot's limited experience in conventional gear airplanes.

Fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to ensure that a tank containing an adequate fuel supply was selected for takeoff. A factor in the accident was the contamination in the engine driven fuel pump, which likely was not capable of providing full system pressure.

the pilot's failure or inability to maintain directional control of the airplane, as a result of an undetermined anomaly concerning of the right main landing gear brake.

continued VFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from tall trees. The weather conditions (low ceiling and fog) were related factors.

the pilot's delay in initiating a go-around and failure to attain sufficient airspeed to clear obstructions at the departure end of the runway, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, and the high obstruction (power lines).

THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT FITTINGS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER WELDS BY THE MAINTENANCE REPAIR FACILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT THAT PRECIPITATED THE GEAR FAILURE WERE THE WIND GUSTS, AND THE PILOT NOT ADEQUATELY COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH INDUCED HEAVY SIDE LOADS.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE EMBANKMENT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE A TAILWIND ON TAKEOFF AND RISING TERRAIN AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE GRASS AIRSTRIP.