Accident Overview
On May 29, 2021, at about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, registration N9254E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Thomas Creek Airport (2U8) in Stanley, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight History
The pilot reported an uneventful takeoff from Johnson Creek Airport (3U2) in Yellow Pine, Idaho, approximately 30 minutes before the accident. After reaching about 10,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot reduced engine power and began a descent toward 2U8, intending to perform a low approach to inspect the runway surface and land if conditions permitted.
About 500 ft before the runway threshold, the pilot applied full engine power. The engine responded but then progressively lost power. The pilot activated the carburetor heat and confirmed the mixture was set correctly. He then turned the airplane away from rising terrain at the runway's end. Unable to climb, the pilot maneuvered through a neighboring canyon, where the engine began to regain power. Assessing the terrain, the pilot determined he could not safely turn around. He sighted a flat area and executed a forced landing at the lowest possible airspeed. During the landing flare, the airplane struck a log and nosed over.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
The closest official weather observation station, at McCall Municipal Airport in McCall, Idaho, reported a temperature of 44.5°F and a dew point of 37.5°F around the time of the accident. According to Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, these conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power.