# NTSB ANC94LA128: Maule M5, N51637, Port Alsworth, AK, September 3, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1994, 19:00 local (Sep 3, 1994, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Alsworth, AK
- Coordinates: 60.200008, -154.280761 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2000&lon=-154.2808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA128

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON A RIDGE AND THE LANDING AREA WAS ROUGHER THAN HE EXPECTED. UPON LANDING THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE WHEELS BENT THE WING STRUTS.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1994, at 1900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule M5, airplane, N51637, registered to and operated by the pilot, collapsed its main gear during landing at a field site located 30 miles northwest of Port Alsworth, Alaska.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purposes of hunting, departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was the accident site.  A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot and the two passengers were not injured.

According to the pilot, he landed on a ridge and the surface was rougher than he expected.  The main gear collapsed and bent the wing struts during the landing roll.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N51637 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M5
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5026L
- Airframe hours: 1495
- Engines: Franklin 6A-350-L1 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Litton, Andrew
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1993, 160 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 165 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19940902025369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940902025369A), Sep 2, 1994: Maule M5220C, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. Departed on hunting trip. Landed on a ridge. Collapsed main gear on rougher than beleived surface. Bent wing struts

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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