# NTSB ANC84FA016: Maule M-4-210C, N51418, Nuiqsut, AK, November 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1983, 21:00 local (Nov 13, 1983, 06:00 UTC)
- Place: Nuiqsut, AK
- Coordinates: 71.280006, -156.780044 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2800&lon=-156.7800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA016

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(hypertension), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - instrument light(s) - inadequate (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND AT A FOGGED IN ARPT AT NIGHT. SOMETIME BETWEEN 2045 AND 2100 YST AN ACFT WAS HEARD OVERFLYING THE ARPT AT NUIQSUT. THE VILLAGER WHO HEARD THE ACFT STATED THE NOISE DECREASED AS THOUGH THE ACFT WAS LANDING. HE THEN HEARD A SOUND DESCRIBED AS A PIECE OF METAL ROOFING SLIDING ACROSS GRAVEL. HE THOUGHT THE ACFT HAD LANDED BUT DID NOT SEE ANY LIGHTS ON THE RWY. HE ALSO STATED HE COULD NOT SEE ACROSS THE RWY DUE TO THE FOG. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGERS WHO FLEW OUTBOUND TO DEADHORSE WITH THIS PLT THE LIGHTS IN THE COCKPIT WERE MARGINAL AND THE PLT USED A FLASHLIGHT SOME OF THE TIME. A COUPLE OF TIMES ACCORDING TO A PASSENGER GOING TO DEADHORSE THE ACFT'DROPPED' WHEN THE PLT LOST SIGHT OF LIGHTS ON THE GROUND. THE PLT WAS ALONE ON THE RETURN TRIP. THE PLT ALSO HAD A HISTORY OF HYPERTENSIONAND WAS TAKING MEDICINE FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51418](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51418-1984-01-24), registration cancelled 1984-01-24, S/N 1092C (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1092C
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth H. Andrus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 1983
- Departed: SCC, DEADHORSE, AK
- Destination: 10AK, NUIQSUT, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 10AK, Nuiqsut, runway 4, 5,000 × 100 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,455 total, 265 in this make and model, 12,425 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCC, 60 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 19831112073739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831112073739A), Nov 12, 1983: Maule M4210C, Nuiqsut, AK, Substantial damage. Angle of impact indicates pilot lost control of aircraft on a go around from attempt to land in dense surface fog.

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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