Maule M-5-220C N62029

Summary

On 8 October 2007 at about 04:47 local time, a Maule M-5-220C registered N62029, operated by Chad Smith, was involved in an accident near Aniak, 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

8 October 2007 at 04:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Aniak, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Chuathbaluk (9A3)

Coordinates

61.5789, -159.2156

Aircraft

Maule M-5-220C

Registration

N62029

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chad Smith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aniak → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ANC08LA003

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel tank selection and fuel starvation, while doing touch-and-go landings.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot flew 10 miles east to another airport for night currency training. He said he was doing touch and go landings, and while flying on the downwind leg, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot reported that he was unable to reach the runway, and that the airplane landed in trees. He said the airplane was fueled prior to the departure, and that he switched fuel tanks after the engine lost power. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to the wings and fuselage when it collided with trees. He reported that a more thorough preflight of the fuel tanks, and to verify which tank the engine was operating on, may have prevented the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.