Event CHI97LA120

Factual narrative

On May 3, 1997, at 0930 central daylight time, a Maule M-5, N290X, registered to and flown by a commercial pilot nosed over on landing at the West Fargo Utility Airport, West Fargo, North Dakota. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Fargo Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota, at 0915 cdt. The pilot had moved his airplane from the West Fargo Utility Airport due to flooding in area. He was in the process of moving the airplane back to the airport when the accident occurred. Most of the airport was under water with the exception of an 600 to 700 foot long section of taxiway. The pilot was attempting to land on this section of taxiway which he reported was in front of his T-hangar. The pilot reported that during the landing he lost the headwind when he descended below the hangar and he became disoriented due to the "glassy water on 3 sides." The airplane touched down in two to three feet of water approximately six feet short of the intended touchdown point on the taxiway. According to the pilot, the airplane contacted the edge of the taxiway and nosed over "Coming to rest exactly at intended touchdown point." The pilot had moved his airplane from the airport due to flooding. He was in the process of returning the airplane, when the accident occurred. The majority of the airport was still under water with the exception of a 600-700 foot section of taxiway in front of the T-hangars on which the pilot was attempting to land. The pilot stated he lost a headwind, when he descended below the hangar height, and the airplane touched down short of the taxiway in two to three feet of water. The airplane then contacted the edge of the taxiway and nosed over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12