# NTSB ANC95LA172: Maule M-7-235, N56564, Aniak, AK, September 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 1995, 16:00 local (Sep 21, 1995, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Aniak, AK - Coordinates: 61.210781, -149.249725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2108&lon=-149.2497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2742/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA172 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation. Factors associated with the accident were: the box canyon, rising terrain, wind gusts, and downdrafts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to takeoff from a remote lake towards rising terrain. He had made an earlier flight in the same direction with winds estimated at 7 to 10 knots. The initial flight was made without incident. The pilot said that soon after takeoff on the accident flight, he suddenly encountered winds estimated at 40 knots. Also, he said that an associated downdraft would not allow the airplane to climb away from the rising terrain, and that he elected to land in the tundra instead of continuing into higher terrain. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 1995, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Maule M-7-235 airplane, N56564, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain approximately 50 miles east of Aniak, Alaska. The commercial pilot and two passengers aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand Air Taxi flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight had just departed an unnamed lake located in a box canyon en route to Aniak when the accident occurred. The pilot reported he landed on the lake to pick up three hunters. He said he made one flight from the lake prior to the accident flight. The initial flight and the accident flight were made towards the interior of the box canyon. The pilot said he elected to takeoff towards rising terrain because of favorable wind conditions in that direction. He estimated the wind as 7 to 10 knots from the southeast. The initial flight was flown with one hunter and some baggage aboard. This flight was flown without incident. The accident flight was made a short time later. No unusual wind activity on the lake was observed at the time of departure. During the initial climb phase, the pilot said he encountered a strong gust of wind estimated at 40 knots, and an associated downdraft that would not allow the airplane to climb away from the rising terrain. He said he slowed the airplane and elected to make a landing in the tundra in lieu of continuing the flight into higher terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe structure during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56564](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56564-2004-03-19), registration cancelled 2004-03-19, S/N 4010C, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235) (registry code 5470208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4010C - Airframe hours: 1250 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-W1ASD 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Richard A. Townsend - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1995, 66 hours before - Destination: ANI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,337 total, 2,064 in this make and model, 2,270 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 10 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950920032659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950920032659A), Sep 20, 1995: Maule M7235, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. Took off into rising terrain due wind direction. Unable outclimb terrain. Land on rough upslope. Damage structure. 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.