# Accident 20050707017399A: Maule M7235, Seward, AK, July 7, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2005, 10:30 local time
- Place: Seward, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.0072° N, 148.7678° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0072&lon=-148.7678&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5661J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5661J-2015-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-7-235 (registry code 5470208, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M7235
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,732 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC05FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05FA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050707017399A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 7, 2005, N5661J, A MAULE M-7-235 FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE DEPARTED BEAR LAKE, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 ADT. THE AIRPLANE HAD FIVE OCCUPANTS ABOARD PLUG BAGGAGE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SERVED AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND ON A PART 91 FLIGHT. THE DESTINATION WAS BIG JOHNSTONE LAKE 50 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SEWARD, ALASKA. THE OCCUPANTS INTENDED TO SPEND THE DAY KAYAKING BIG JOHNSTONE LAKE AT THE FACE OF EXCELSIOR GLACIER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 ADT, WHILE ON APPROACH FOR LANDING AT BIG JOHNSTONE LAKE THE AIRPLANE LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED THE WATER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BUCKLE THE FLOAT STRUTS. THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON TOP OF THE FLOAT SPREADER BARS. THE OCCUPANTS MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE WRECKAGE AND SWAM TO A NEARBY ICEBERG. ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS DROWNED WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO SWIM TO THE ICEBERG. THE REMAINING OCCUPANTS FLOATED ON ICEBERGS FOR SIX AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE BEING RESCUED BY HELICOPTER. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE AIRPLANE LOAD EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WEIGHT AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS OUTSIDE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY ENVELOPE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED AIRCRAFT WAS OUT OF REQUIRED ANNUAL INSPECTION.

## 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 ANC05FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05FA098), Jul 7, 2005: Maule M-7-235 (N5661J), Seward, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain minimum airspeed during final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and impact with the surface of the lake.

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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