# NTSB ANC96LA136: Maule M-4, N4726T, Skwentna, AK, September 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1996, 17:00 local (Sep 3, 1996, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.929645, -151.72998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9296&lon=-151.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site. A factor associated with the accident was the rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported he was landing his airplane at a remote gravel bar. He said he touched down further down the gravel bar then he intended, and then realized there was a depression just ahead. He attempted to take off, but his hand was knocked off the throttle by the rough terrain. The airplane entered the depression, the main landing gear dug in, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1996, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule M-4 airplane, N4726T, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while landing on a gravel bar located approximately 50 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. The flight last departed Palmer, Alaska, about 1520, and the destination was the gravel bar. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 5, the pilot reported that after touchdown on the gravel bar, he realized that he had touched down farther down the gravel bar than he wanted to. He said he tried to abort the landing, but as he reached for the throttle to increase engine power, the airplane struck something on the gravel bar. The pilot said his hand was knocked away from the throttle by the impact. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane entered a depression in the gravel bar. The left main landing gear wheel subsequently dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4726T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4726T-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 1001, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-4 - Registry model: [Maule M-4-210](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-210) (registry code 5460108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1001 - Airframe hours: 2003 - Engines: Continental IO-360-A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark A. Petersen - Registered owner: Arthur Petersen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAQ, PALMER, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 334 total, 139 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 99 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 19960902025919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960902025919A), Sep 2, 1996: Maule M4210, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Hit bump landing on gravel bar. Failed go around hit depresion. Nosed over. Reported bump knocked hand off throttle ## Other investigations on N4726T (2) 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 ANC70D0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70D0053), Sep 4, 1969: Maule M4-210 (N4726T), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK66X0139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK66X0139), Apr 21, 1966: Maule M-4 (N4726T), Vancouver, Canada, substantial damage 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.