Maule M-7-235 N5657A

Summary

On 19 September 2003 at about 03:40 local time, a Maule M-7-235 registered N5657A was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. 2 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.

Date

19 September 2003 at 03:40

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.7192, -153.6328

Aircraft

Maule M-7-235

Registration

N5657A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McGrath → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA119

Nobody was injured.

Fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper placement of the fuel selector to a nearly empty fuel tank prior to takeoff, resulting in a loss of engine power, and an in-flight collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from an off-airport site in his tailwheel airplane. He indicated he inadvertently left the fuel selector on a nearly empty fuel tank. Shortly after liftoff, the engine sputtered, and lost all power. The airplane subsequently descended into trees and received structural damage to the wings and lift struts. In his NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, in the section: Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote, "Land and takeoff with fuel selector set on BOTH tanks."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.