# NTSB ANC94LA050: Maule M5-235C, N9237E, Fairbanks, AK, April 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 1994, 14:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.899925, -148.160446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8999&lon=-148.1604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA050 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN HER FOOT INTERFERED AND RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - flt control syst,rudder control - movement restricted (cause) - control interference - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - sign ## Analysis AFTER LANDING, PILOT APPLIED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTER LINE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE RUDDER PEDAL THE TOE OF HER BOOT GOT HUNG UP ON THE AILERON CABLE THAT RUNS ALONG SIDE THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE. REALIZING THAT THE PLANE WAS GOING TO GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SHE APPLIED POWER TO GO-AROUND. THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT SIGN JUST AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 1994, at 1420 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule M5-235C airplane, N9237E, collided with an airport sign during a go-around maneuver at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The private certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to it's right wing. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was conducted for the purpose of practicing stop and go takeoffs and landings. Visual meteorological conditions with light and variable winds out of the north prevailed and there was no flight plan on file for the local flight. The pilot reported that she had been practicing takeoff and landings on runway 1R. On the landing in question, she touched down to the left of the center line and in order to correct she depressed the right rudder pedal. When she initially attempted to remove her foot from the rudder pedal the toe of her boot got hung up on the aileron cable that runs parallel down along side the elevator control tube. This momentarily allowed too much right rudder or brake to be applied further causing the airplane to go to the right. At this moment, she realized that the airplane was going to go off the runway and she applied power to go around. The airplane proceeded off the side of the runway where upon the plane collided with an airport sign just after becoming airborne. She made closed right traffic and landed on runway 1R without further incident and parked the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9237E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9237E-2003-09-05), registration cancelled 2003-09-05, S/N 7141C, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M5-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (registry code 5460135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7141C - Airframe hours: 625 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lewis, Nancy H. - Registered owner: Finkel, Jonathan L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1993, 78 hours before - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International, runway 1, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 218 total, 49 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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 19940417011019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940417011019A), Apr 17, 1994: Maule M5235C, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot reported boot caught on aileron cable on landing. Caused brake application. Veered. Struck sign on go around. ## Other investigations on N9237E (2) 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 ANC01FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01FA084), Jul 15, 2001: Maule M-5-235C (N9237E), Bettles, AK, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during an unknown phase of flight. - [NTSB ANC99LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA041), Apr 4, 1999: Maule M-5 (N9237E), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing. Factors associated with this accident were the left crosswind, and the snowbank on the edge of the runway. 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.