# NTSB ANC89LA139: Maule M-5, N5644W, Nebesna Glacier, AK, August 10, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1989, 17:30 local (Aug 10, 1989, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Nebesna Glacier, AK - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 5238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5238/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA139 ## Probable cause THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO INADVERTENTLY TOUCH DOWN, HE DELAYED MAKING A GO-AROUND, AND HE DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO CONTINUE THE GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, HIGH VEGETATION IN THE SELECTED LANDING AREA, A DOWNDRAFT, AND ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE DRY RIVER BED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - touchdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear - overload ## Analysis THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO THE NEBESNA GLACIER AREA TO GO HUNTING. HE FOUND WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CHOICE SITE TO LAND FROM WHERE HE PLANNED TO HIKE. HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND WAS LONG, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND. HIS 2ND APCH WAS ALSO LONG, BUT THIS TIME, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN & THE WHEELS CAUGHT SOME LOW SHRUBS, SLOWING THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED HE 'ADDED FULL POWER FOR GO-AROUND, STRUGGLED INTO THE AIR WITH FULL FLAPS, AND TURNED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN' WHICH WAS DOWN WIND. HE SAID THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT & WAS 'PUSHED' INTO A DRY RIVER BED. HE STATED THAT HE MADE A CONTROLLED LANDING ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, BUT THE TERRAIN WAS TOO ROUGH & THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5644W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5644W), registered now, S/N 7350C, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-5 - Registry model: [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (registry code 5460135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7350C - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Crostick, Arthur - Registered owner: Arthur E Crositick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ORT, NORTHWAY, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,528 total, 80 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19890809028279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890809028279A), Aug 9, 1989: Maule M5235C, Nebesna Glacier, AK, Substantial damage. Made low pass over possible landing area. Wheels caught in brush. Tried go around full flaps landed,collapsed gear. ## Other investigations on N5644W (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 ANC23LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA028), Apr 4, 2023: Maule M-5-235C (N5644W), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around maneuver while landing with excess airspeed into a short strip, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent loss of control. 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.