# NTSB ANC76AA078: Maule M4, N9800M, Bethel, AK, March 29, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 29, 1976
- Place: Bethel, AK · BETHEL, AK
- Location: 60.7922° N, 161.7558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bethel, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7922&lon=-161.7558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154227
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC76AA078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2665  76/3/29  NR.BETHEL,AK          MAULE M4            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 754
        TIME - 1800                    N9800M              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 66 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GOODNEWS BAY,AK             BETHEL,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: WING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS,BOLTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9800M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9800M-1981-10-20), registration cancelled 1981-10-20, S/N 1002C (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M4
- Registry model: [Maule M-4-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-210c) (registry code 5460112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19760329030289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760329030289A), Mar 29, 1976: Maule M4210C, Bethel, AK, Destroyed, 3 fatal

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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