# NTSB ANC96LA130: Maule M-7, N897M, Palmer, AK, August 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1996, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.620525, -148.979629 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6205&lon=-148.9796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2886/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. ## 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 - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,tire - penetrated - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot was making an off airport landing to pick up his passengers. During the landing roll, a rock punctured the right tire and the tire went flat. He was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the right side of the landing area. The airplane rolled into alder bushes and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 1996, at 1030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule M-7 airplane, N897M, registered to David Glenn of Palmer, Alaska, and operated by Grasshopper Adventures of Palmer, nosed over during an off airport landing in Grasshopper Valley located 20 miles southeast of Palmer. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Palmer and the destination was the location of the nose over. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 3, 1996, he stated that upon touchdown a rock punctured the right tire. He was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ran off the right side of the landing area and into alder bushes. After striking the alder bushes the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated the airplane was equipped with 850 x 10 McCreary tires. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N897M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N897M), registered now, S/N 4064C, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7 - Registry model: [Maule M-7-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260) (registry code 5460111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4064C - Airframe hours: 665 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Grasshopper Adventures - Registered owner: David Glenn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 23, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: PAQ, AK - Destination: GRASSHOPPER VAL, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19960824023779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960824023779A), Aug 24, 1996: Maule M7235, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Narrative: aircraft landed on gravel strip and suffered a rock cut in right main tire, causing a flat. Before pilot could completely stop the aircraft, it… ## Other investigations on N897M (1) 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 ANC02LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA099), Aug 19, 2002: Maule M-7-235 (N897M), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fracture of the right main landing gear axle during landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were corrosion of the landing gear axle, failure of company maintenance personnel to… 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.