Millers Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newburg, Maine 04101
Thursday, July 23, 1998 9:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff ground roll on runway 36, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and collided with trees. Examination of the accident site by an FAA Inspector revealed deep, ground scars similar to the tailwheel on the grass strip in the run-up area. There were ground scars similar to the main landing gear on the wet, tall, unmowed grass strip, for about 800 feet where the airplane accelerated on the runway, then the ground scars veered off to the left in the vicinity of the trees. The pilot said he ruled out any on ground directional correction, '...the wind caused a further drift to the left of 36 and put the aircraft in a direct path to the tree line...it was my intention to climb over the trees. Though the engine sounds indicated no anomalies, it just didn't seem to be delivering normal thrust...I came to the conclusion that clearing the trees would not be an option...I therefore opted for a controlled crash into the trees.' The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Related factors were the long, wet, unmowed grass runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEWBURG
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04101
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MILLERS FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 180
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID BGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1677
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5643V
NTSB Number IAD98LA083
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Maule
Aircraft Model M-5-235C
Aircraft Series Identifier M-5-235C
Aircraft Serial Number 7359C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 805
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLINTON F. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 260 HIGHWOOD AVE
Aircraft Owner City RIDGEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07450
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 740
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --