# NTSB ANC00LA013: Maule M7-235C, N5657A, Palmer, AK, November 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 1999, 12:06 local (16:06 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620555, -148.97908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6206&lon=-148.9791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47864/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional takeoff into known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident are crosswinds, gusts, and downdrafts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff in gusty, crosswind conditions. Once airborne, he said the strong right crosswind required almost a 90 degree crab. He stated the left wing contacted the trees, and the plane settled into the trees upright. The owner of the 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide, north-south airstrip, who witnessed the accident, said winds and downdrafts were strong, gusty, and 'rolling over the trees.' The witness said the right crosswind pushed the airplane into the trees. The weather observation from an airport four miles to the west recorded winds from 040 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 1999, at 1206 Alaska standard time, a Maule M7-235C airplane, N5657A, sustained substantial damage when it contacted trees during takeoff from the Four Corners airstrip, Palmer, Alaska, at 61 degrees 36 minutes north latitude, 149 degrees 28 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight to the pilot's hunting lodge. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 15, the owner of the 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide airstrip, who witnessed the accident, said winds and downdrafts were strong and gusty, and "rolling over the trees." The witness indicated that when the airplane became airborne, the wind pushed it to the left into the tops of the trees. He added the engine was operating until it struck trees. During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on November 15, the pilot stated that after warming up the airplane, he waited for a lull in the wind to begin the takeoff roll to the north. The airplane came off the ground about 400 feet into the takeoff roll, earlier than he expected. He said that when the airplane climbed to the level of the tree tops, the strong right crosswind required almost a 90 degree crab. He related that the winds were gusty, and he felt the airplane was on the edge of stalling. The left wing contacted trees, and the plane settled into the trees upright. The automated weather observation from the New Wasilla Airport, Alaska, four miles west of Four Corners airstrip, at 1215, recorded winds from 040 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5657A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5657A), registered now, S/N 4013C, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M7-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235) (registry code 5470208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4013C - Airframe hours: 3128 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George E. Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1999, 145 hours before - Departed: 14AK - Destination: MYSTIC LAKE, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 14AK, Four Corners Airstrip, runway 36, 1,500 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,897 total, 3,220 in this make and model, 6,734 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 13 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IYS, 4 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991115046729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991115046729A), Nov 15, 1999: Maule M7235, Palmer, AK, No damage. (-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… ## Other investigations on N5657A (2) 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 ANC03LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA119), Sep 19, 2003: Maule M-7-235 (N5657A), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper placement of the fuel selector to a nearly empty fuel tank prior to takeoff, resulting in a loss of engine power, and an in-flight collision with trees. - [NTSB ANC91LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA135), Aug 25, 1991: Maule M-7-235 (N5657A), Mystic Pass, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNFAVORABLE WIND AND TURBULENCE. 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. --- 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.