Maule M-7 N5656A

Summary

On 24 August 1996 at about 04:30 local time, a Maule M-7 registered N5656A was involved in an accident near Barrow, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 1996 at 04:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Barrow, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

71.2790, -156.7798

Aircraft

Maule M-7

Registration

N5656A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Etivluk Lake → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96FA131

2 people died.

the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and resultant flight into adverse weather conditions. Factors associated with the accident were: high winds and terrain induced turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

An airplane, believed to be the float-equipped accident airplane, was observed by two witnesses, when it flew near their remote hunting camp. They related the airplane was flying very low over the nearby Etivluk River. The witnesses said they wondered why anyone would be flying in such 'horrendous' weather. They estimated the wind velocity was 80 miles per hour, with higher gusts. The airplane was discovered after it had crashed inverted on a gravel bar in the Nigu River. On-site examination disclosed that pieces of the upper left wing skin had separated from the airplane; the pieces were located approximately 3/4 mile from the main wreckage. The left aileron and flap were bent upward and rearward. The wing struts remained attached to their respective wing attach points. The upper 18 inches of the left wing struts were curled upward toward the airplane's cabin. The airplane was destroyed by postimpact fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.