# NTSB ANC23LA048: Maule M-4-210C, N40661, Prospect Creek, AK, July 1, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 1, 2023, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Prospect Creek, AK · Dalton highway next to Arctic Circle sign
- Coordinates: 66.56, -150.81
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5600&lon=-150.8100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192637/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192637
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA048

## Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on climbout, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with trees.

## 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-4-210C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule M-4-210C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460112), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot performed a low pass over a highway. During climbout, the pilot maintained an excessive angle of attack and the airplane veered left and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40661](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40661), registered now, S/N 2173C, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-210C
- Registry model: [Maule M-4-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-210c) (registry code 5460112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-d) (registry code 17149, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2173C
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 1595
- Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2023, 87.3 hours before
- Departed: 83AK, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: PABT, Bettles, AK
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 247 total, 134 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: ABT, 27 nm away
- METAR: PABT 011853Z 25004KT 10SM FEW028 FEW140 17/09 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP175 T01670089

## 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 20230701010669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230701010669A), Jul 1, 2023: Maule M-4-210C, Prospect Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot conducted a lowlevel pass over the roadway prior to landing, during that pass the pilot realized he was not maintaining altituded, he attempted to apply…

## Other investigations on N40661 (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 GAA16CA468](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA468), Sep 3, 2016: Maule M4 (N40661), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to recognize and compensate for tailwind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway overrun and nose over.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192637. 11.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16177876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16196505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.

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