Maule MA-4 N4741T

Summary

On 15 August 1995 at about 03:00 local time, a Maule MA-4 registered N4741T was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1995 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Hook Mountain Lodge

Coordinates

60.1994, -154.2799

Aircraft

Maule MA-4

Registration

N4741T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA139

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO SUSTAIN A CLIMB BEFORE HITTING TREES. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING A HUNTING LODGE AIRSTRIP, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON A KNOLL, ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRSTRIP WAS ABOUT 900 FEET LONG AND SLOPED DOWNHILL ABOUT 2 DEGREES. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE WIND WAS BLOWING GENERALLY FROM THE WEST ABOUT 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS, BUT VARIED FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE AIRPLANE WAS 31 POUNDS BELOW ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH. AT ABOUT 50 MPH OF AIRSPEED, HE ATTEMPTED TO 'ROTATE' THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ROTATE, BUT TOOK OFF AS IT CONTINUED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN AIRSPEED BY LOWERING THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT DESCENDED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SEVERAL TREES ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED TAILWIND OR DOWNDRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.