Maule M-4-210 N9808M
7 July 1994 · Northway, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 7 July 1994 at about 21:15 local time, a Maule M-4-210 registered N9808M, operated by Smith, Stephen W., was involved in an accident near Northway, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Northway, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Northway (ORT)
- Coordinates
- 62.9994, -141.6903
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-210
- Registration
- N9808M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Smith, Stephen W.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Anchorage → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC94LA076
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT FITTINGS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER WELDS BY THE MAINTENANCE REPAIR FACILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT THAT PRECIPITATED THE GEAR FAILURE WERE THE WIND GUSTS, AND THE PILOT NOT ADEQUATELY COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH INDUCED HEAVY SIDE LOADS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
FOLLOWING THE PLANE'S DIVERGENCE FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING ON INITIAL ROLLOUT DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. FAA INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE WELDS TO THE LANDING GEAR LONGERON FITTINGS DID NOT HAVE PROPER PENETRATION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FITTINGS WERE INSTALLED BY AN FAA REPAIR STATION WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPAIRED AFTER AN ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 300 FLIGHT HOURS PREVIOUS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Maule M-4 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 1994 | Maule M-4 | Salina, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1994 | Maule M-4-220C | Dubois, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1993 | Maule M-4-210C | Moscow, Idaho, United States | McCall, Randy L. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1995 | Maule M-4 | Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Sep 1993 | Maule M-4-210C | Staunton, Virginia, United States | Ridge and Valley Soaring | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Sep 1996 | Maule M-4 | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Mark A. Petersen | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Gulkana, Alaska, United States | Maynard, Roger L. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-12 | Nondalton, Alaska, United States | Alaska Safari, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Cessna 140 | Willow, Alaska, United States | Moore, Charles D. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18-150 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | 4W Air | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-18 | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | Hulbert, Ward A. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Cessna 182B | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Charlton, Albert J. | No injuries | - |