LAX91LA084

1991-01-27 · OWAYHEE, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

N5653Y Maule M5-180C None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS SUN GLARE.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A GRAVEL ROAD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT DUE TO THE RUNWAY BEING COVERED WITH SNOW. DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED THE SOFT SOIL ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SAGEBRUSH AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THE SUN GLARE RESTRICTED HIS VISIBILITY DURING THE TAKEOFF. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA084.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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