Maule M-6-235 N5647N

Summary

On 2 October 1993 at about 22:30 local time, a Maule M-6-235 registered N5647N, operated by Bivin, William C., was involved in an accident near Merrill Pass, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 1993 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Merrill Pass, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.2198, -149.8510

Aircraft

Maule M-6-235

Registration

N5647N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bivin, William C.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bethel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC94FA001

1 person died.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT WEATHER CONDITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH MERRILL PASS IN WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE FORECAST TO BE MARGINAL. OTHER PILOTS IN THE AREA REPORTED THE PASS WAS MARGINAL TO CLOSED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A BOX CANYON ONE VALLEY BEFORE REACHING THE PASS. THE TURN REQUIRED INTO THE BOX CANYON WAS THE SAME TURN REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE PASS. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON THE GLACIER AT THE 4000-FOOT-LEVEL, 90 DEGREES TO THE LONG AXIS OF THE BOX CANYON. THE GLACIER AND SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS WERE COVERED WITH FRESH SNOW.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.