- Date
- September 8, 1995, 16:00 local (Sep 9, 1995, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aniak, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N61043Maule M-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950908028069A
- Case key
- 2734
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 pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
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.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot and 2 passengers, who were hunting clients, departed a remote 650 foot long gravel area. The pilot began his takeoff roll in a southeast direction into a 10 knot wind. He indicated that the airplane became momentarily airborne in ground effect. At the end of the takeoff area, the ground sloped downhill, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot also indicated that the wind decreased to zero during the takeoff. The aircraft collided with trees beyond the takeoff area and then nosed over.
Factual narrative
On September 8, 1995, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Maule M-7, N61043, collided with trees during takeoff from a remote area, about 32 miles southeast of Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country, on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Aniak Air Guides, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, and 2 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Company flight following procedures were in effect.
The pilot reported that he was departing a 650 foot long gravel area with hunting clients. The pilot began his takeoff roll in a southeast direction into a 10 knot wind. The pilot indicated that the airplane became momentarily airborne in ground effect. At the end of the takeoff area, the ground sloped downhill and the airplane began to descend. The pilot also indicated that the wind decreased to zero during the takeoff. The aircraft collided with trees beyond the takeoff area and then nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61043
- Reported as
- Maule M-7
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4044C
- Airframe hours
- 398
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-W1ASO, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Richard Townsend
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 6, 1995 · 55 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,301 total · 2,025 in this make and model · 2,230 as pilot in command · 141 in the last 90 days · 52 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 125° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N61043 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.