19991115046729A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Maule M-7-235 · Palmer, AK · November 15, 1999

Date: November 15, 1999 · 12:10 local
Place: Palmer, AK
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N5657A
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC00LA013
Reported as: Maule M7235

N5657ARegistered now · Maule M-7-235S/N 4013C · Built 1984 Airframe modelMaule M-7-235 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On November 15, 1999 at approximately 1210 Alaska daylight time, a Maule M-7 airplane, N5657A, sustained substantial damage when it impacted with trees during initial climbout from four corners airstrip. The airman stated that after warming up the aircraft he waited for a lull in the winds which he estimated at 12 knots gusting to 25 knots variable in direction from 10 to 90 degrees. He began a takeoff to the north with the intention of becoming airborne in 600 to 700 feet however the aircraft came off the ground in about 300 feet, much earlier than the airman expected. At approximately 200 feet in the air the wind shifted to a 90 degree crosswind and increased to an estimated 25 knots. Attempting to out climb the trees ahead, the aircraft's airspeed deteriorated and was close to a stall and the airman elected to crash land in the trees ahead.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 15, 1999 AT APPROXIMATELY 1210 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A MAULE M-7 AIRPLANE, N5657A, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED WITH TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM FOUR CORNERS AIRSTRIP. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT AFTER WARMING UP THE AIRCRAFT HE WAITED FOR A LULL IN THE WINDS WHICH HE ESTIMATED AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS VARIABLE IN DIRECTION FROM 10 TO 90 DEGREES. HE BEGAN A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH WITH THE INTENTION OF BECOMING AIRBORNE IN 600 TO 700 FEET HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT CAME OFF THE GROUND IN ABOUT 300 FEET, MUCH EARLIER THAN THE AIRMAN EXPECTED. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET IN THE AIR THE WIND SHIFTED TO A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND AND INCREASED TO AN ESTIMATED 25 KNOTS. ATTEMPTING TO OUT CLIMB THE TREES AHEAD, THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED DETERIORATED AND WAS CLOSE TO A STALL AND THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO CRASH LAND IN THE TREES AHEAD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC00LA013Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPalmer, AKThe pilot's intentional takeoff into known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident are crosswinds, gusts, and downdrafts.Nov 15, 1999 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5657A · 4

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20030918027689ATo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · Mcgrath, AK(-23) During departure from a remote airstrip, the aircraft engine lost power. The pilot stated that the loss of power was due to fuel starvation. While attempting to restart the engine, the left wing stalled and the pilot lost control of the aircraft. During…Sep 18, 2003 · Substantial damage Accident 19910824039829ATo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · Mystic Pass, AKDrifted off runway on liftoff tail dragged in bushes. Stalled and hit ground. Blames a wind shift to a tailwind.Aug 24, 1991 · Substantial damage Incident 19910425036509ITakeoff Ground Roll · Hinchinbrook Is, AKAircraft hit a small ditch in beach sand on takeoff roll. Broke left gear. Came to rest on right main.Apr 25, 1991 · Minor damage Incident 19860717085099IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Kenai, AKFloat plane nosed over while turning in strong wind and large waves.Jul 17, 1986 · Minor damage