ANC95LA088

NTSB accident investigation · Maule M-5-235 · Palmer, AK · June 29, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 28, 1995, 23:00 local (Jun 29, 1995, 07:00 UTC)
Place
Palmer, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9104EMaule M-5-235
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report February 8, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
19950628015639A
Case key
2674

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The excessive airspeed maintained by the pilot during the approach and landing, and the pilot's failure to abort the landing, while there was still sufficient runway remaining. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of experience in the type of airplane.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding
Airspeed - excessivePilot in commandCause
Aborted landing - delayedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot stated that the airplane's approach speed was too fast. During the landing roll, he realized that he would be unable to stop the airplane on the airstrip, and he attempted a go-around by applying full power. When he realized that the airplane would not clear the trees at the end of the airstrip, he aborted the go-around. The airplane rolled past the end of the airstrip and crashed into trees. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and received 3 hours of dual instruction, 10 days earlier. He had 12 hours of total time in the accident airplane.

Factual narrative

On June 28, 1995, at 2300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule, M-5-235 airplane, N9104E, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed into trees after aborting a landing and attempting a go-around at Glacier Park airstrip which is located 35 miles northeast of Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Palmer and the destination was Glacier Park airstrip. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.

During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that his approach speed was a little fast. After touchdown he realized that he would not be able to stop the airplane before running off the end of the airstrip. He elected to perform a go-around by applying full power. The pilot stated that when it became obvious that the airplane would not clear the trees at the end of the airstrip, he "cut" the power and applied the brakes. The airplane rolled past the end of the airstrip and crashed into the trees.

The pilot stated that he had just purchased the airplane. He received approximately 3 hours of dual instruction 10 days earlier. He had 12 hours of total time in the Maule M-5-235 airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N9104E
Reported as
Maule M-5-235
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7100C
Airframe hours
1,250
Engine
Lycoming O-540-J7ASD, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Tardiff, Richard
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 16, 1995 · 12 hours before
Departed
PAQ · AK
Destination
Glacier Park, AK
Airport
Glacier Park Resort, runway 24, 2,000 × 50 ft, gravel

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
380 total · 12 in this make and model · 280 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
Calm
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
50 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.