# NTSB ANC23LA047: Maule M-5-210C, N51592, Kusatan, AK, July 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2023, 16:00 local (Jul 5, 2023, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Kusatan, AK · Gravel bar along a river - Coordinates: 61.061, -152.0305 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0610&lon=-152.0305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192578/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192578 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a bounced landing and an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-210C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5460134), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Maule M-5-210C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=5460134), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-5-210C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5460134), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll out on a remote, gravel/sand bar, the main landing gear wheels encountered an area of uneven sand and the airplane bounced and pitched into the air. She attempted to correct to no avail. Subsequently, when the airplane touched down from the bounce, the wheels dug into the sand, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wing struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51592](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51592), registered now, S/N 6023C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-5-210C - Registry model: [Maule M-5-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (registry code 5460134) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6023C - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 2640 - Engines: Continental IO-360 D33A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2023, 35 hours before - Departed: EDF, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NONE, McArthur River Gravel Bar, runway N/A, 1,500 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, military, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 4, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,050 total, 40 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: PASX, 46 nm away - METAR: PASX 042356Z AUTO 26009KT 10SM SCT095 12/07 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP252 T01170067 10150 20117 53010 ## 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 20230704014409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704014409A), Jul 4, 2023: Maule M-5-210C, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. This landing accident occurred during the second landing of the day at the same general location. After the first landing, the airman walked the sand bar… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192578. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15832085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA047%206120%20N51592_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15833791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA047%20Investigative%20photographs-Rel.pdf 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.