On January 19, 1985, a Maule M-5-235C (registration N6176M) operated by James A Fors was involved in an aviation accident near Wenatchee, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot made a precautionary landing on a snow-covered grain field after his artificial horizon failed and darkness approached, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.
What happened
The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing on a snow-covered grain field. He stated that his artificial horizon was inoperative and that darkness was approaching. Additionally, he reported seeing a needle flicker but was unsure if it indicated a fuel gauge or oil pressure gauge issue. During the landing, the aircraft nosed over in 10 inches of snow.
The investigation
No further investigation details were provided in the source text.