# NTSB ANC82DA065: Maule M-4-210C, N9872M, Eagle River, AK, August 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1982, 19:00 local (Aug 4, 1982, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Eagle River, AK
- Coordinates: 61.210441, -149.250701 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2104&lon=-149.2507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA065

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not possible, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PREFLIGHTED THE FLOAT PLANE, PUMPED THE FLOATS, AND CHECKED FOR WATER. AFTER THE ENGINE START, TAXI, AND PRETAKEOFF CHECKS, HE SET THE FLAPS AT THE FIRST NOTCH. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF RUN AND TAXIED BACK FOR A LONGER RUN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING NORMAL POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STILL TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO REACH FLYING SPEED. AT 55 MPH, THE PILOT SET A SECOND NOTCH OF FLAPS AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER. HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING, SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE SLIGHTLY, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE SETTLED INTO TREES NEAR THE END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 21 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE ELEVATION OF THE LAKE WAS ABOUT 300 FT, BUT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 688 FT. THE WATER ON THE LAKE WAS REPORTED TO BE CALM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9872M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9872M), registered now, S/N 1054C, built 1967 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 9872M
- Airframe hours: 1039
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roger Allen Pfeifer/Al Romasze
- Registered owner: Roger Allen Pfeifer/Al Romasze
- Departed: EAGLE RIVER, AK
- Destination: EAGLE RIVER, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,000 total, 58 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 147 °F

## 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 19820803037949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820803037949A), Aug 3, 1982: Maule M4210C, Eagle River, AK, Substantial damage. Lifted off water on second try, over gross weight, unable to climb, flew into trees on shoreline.

## Other investigations on N9872M (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 ANC93LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA109), Jul 2, 1993: Maule M4 (N9872M), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER TAXI SPEED. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH WATER.

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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