# Accident 19990924027829A: Maule M4, Anchorage, AK, September 24, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 24, 1999, 13:06 local time - Place: Anchorage, AK - Airport: Lake Hood Strip Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.1591° N, 149.9897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1591&lon=-149.9897&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4623T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4623T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Maule M-4 (registry code 5460104, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M4 - Reported engine: CONT O300A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total, 2 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA152) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990924027829A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1999, AT 1306 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A MAULE ML-4 AIRPLANE, N4623T, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE LAKE HOOD STRIP, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A LOCAL AREA, VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR), POSTMAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO INTERVIEWED THE PILOT, AND INSPECTED THE AIRPLANE AT THE SCENE, THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER REBUILDING THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT INDICATED TO THE INSPECTOR, THAT AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO FLY OFF THE RUNWAY, HE PULLED AFT ON THE YOKE, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE FAA'S INSPECTION REVEALED THE ELEVATOR CABLES WERE CONNECTED BACKWARDS. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 27, THAT HE BOUGHT THE AIRPLANE AS A PROJECT AND REBUILT IT. HE STATED THAT DURING THE REBUILD HE HOOKED UP THE ELEVATOR CABLES BACKWARDS, AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE ERROR DURING HIS INSPECTION. HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE AN OONE ELSE INSPECT HIS WORK. HE INDICATED THAT HE WAS BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ON THE FIRST TEST FLIGHT, AND AS SOON AS HE PULLED AFT ON THE YOKE, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND THE LEFT WING LIFT-STRUT. (-23) ELEVATOR CABLES WERE CROSSED AT ELEVATOR WHICH CAUSED THE ELEVATORS TO WORK BACKWARDS. (.4) THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING THE FIRST POSTMAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT AFTER REBUILDING THE AIRPLANE. AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO FLY OFF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT PULLED AFT ON THE YOKE, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE ELEVATOR CABLES WERE CONNECTED BACKWARDS. THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO A CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE THAT HE BOUGHT THE AIRPLANE AS A PROJECT AND REBUILT IT. HE STATED HE HOOKED UP THE ELEVATOR CABLES BACKWARDS, AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE ERROR DURING HIS INSPECTION. HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE ELSE INSPECT HIS WORK. ## 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 ANC99LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA152), Sep 24, 1999: Maule ML-4 (N4623T), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper (reversed) connection of the elevator control cables by the owner/pilot-mechanic, and the failure to have the installation inspected by another mechanic. ## Other reports on N4623T (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19900601017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900601017979A), Jun 1, 1990: Maule M4 (N4623T), Little Susitna, AK, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Crash landed on tundra. - [Accident 19830902048869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830902048869A), Sep 2, 1983: Maule M4 (N4623T), Monroe, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control during takeoff. Aircraft rolled into high grass and flipped inverted. - [Accident 19790526009379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790526009379A), May 26, 1979: Maule M4 (N4623T), Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control on landing and ground looped. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.