# Accident 19980929045989A: Maule M7235, Wasilla, AK, September 29, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 1998, 18:14 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6110C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6110C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-7-235 (registry code 5470208, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M7235
- Reported engine: LYC IO540C4B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,177 total, 319 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980929045989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE THAT HE WAS RETURNING FROM A HUNTING LODGE WITH A LOAD OF MOOSE MEAT. HE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND THE WINDS AT CRUISE WERE 45 MILES PER HOUR. HE DESCRIBED BEING ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, AT 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND ENCOUNTERING A 'HELLACIOUS WIND WHICH TOSSED THE AIRPLANE AROUND LIKE A LEAF.' WITNESSES ON THE GROUND DESCRIBED 'VERY WINDY CONDITIONS,' AND 'THE PLANE SPINNING INTO THE WATER.' WEATHER OBSERVATIONS FROM A STATION LOCATED FIVE MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE RECORDED SURFACE WINDS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE WITHIN 2,000 FEET OF THE SURFACE, AND WINDS FROM THE NORTH GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1998, AT 1814 ADT, A MAULE, M-7-235, AIRCRAFT N6110C, OPERATED BY BOBBY GRAHAM, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING APPROACH TO LANDING AT ISLAND LAKE. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME FROM MYSTIC LAKE LODGE WITH A LOAD OF MOOSE MEAT, WHEN HE BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER SEVERE TURBULENCE. AS HE CROSSED SCOTT LAKE AT 500 FT AGL O                            N FINAL APPROACH, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN, THEN UP, THEN VERTICALLY DOWN ONCE MORE. THE PILOT STATED THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERS IS LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN AT THE WATER. REPORTS FROM OTHER PILOTS FLYING IN THE AREA AT THE TIME, INCLUDING THE NTSB IIC, SUBSTANTIATE SEVERE TURBULENCE AND WIND SHEAR IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED NO INDICATION OF PRIOR MECHANICAL FAILURE, BUT INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER VERY HARD, AND IN A NEARLY NOSE-DOWN VERTICAL POSITION. PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON OPERATING WHEN POSSIBLE WIND SHEAR CONDITIONS EXIST, AND WAS PROVIDED A COPY OF AC 00-54, PILOT WINDSHEAR GUIDE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA165), Sep 30, 1998: Maule ML-7 (N6110C), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the gusty and turbulent weather conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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