- Date
- September 24, 1999, 13:06 local (21:06 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4623TMaule ML-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990924027829A
- Case key
- 47539
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 improper (reversed) connection of the elevator control cables by the owner/pilot-mechanic, and the failure to have the installation inspected by another mechanic.
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 pilot was beginning the first postmaintenance check flight after rebuilding the airplane. As the airplane began to fly off the runway, the pilot pulled aft on the yoke, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident inspection revealed the elevator cables were connected backwards. The pilot, who is also a certificated aircraft mechanic, told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he bought the airplane as a project and rebuilt it. He stated he hooked up the elevator cables backwards, and did not recognize the error during his inspection. He added that he did not have anyone else inspect his work.
Factual narrative
On September 24, 1999, at 1306 Alaska daylight time, a Maule ML-4 airplane, N4623T, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during takeoff from the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The solo airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) postmaintenance check flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed.
According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot, and inspected the airplane at the scene, the pilot was beginning the first flight after rebuilding the airplane. The pilot indicated to the inspector, that as the airplane began to fly off the runway, he pulled aft on the yoke, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident inspection revealed the elevator cables were connected backwards.
The pilot, who is also a certificated aircraft mechanic, told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on September 27, that he bought the airplane as a project, and rebuilt it. He stated that during the rebuild he hooked up the elevator cables backwards, and did not recognize the error during his inspection. He added that he did not have anyone else inspect his work. He indicated that he was beginning the takeoff on the first test flight, and as soon as he pulled aft on the yoke, the airplane nosed over.
The airplane came to rest inverted, and sustained substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the left wing lift-strut.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4623T
- Reported as
- Maule ML-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 91
- Airframe hours
- 1,334
- Engine
- Continental O-300A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jack E. Corey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 23, 1998 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- Z41
- Airport
- Z41 · Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 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
- 68
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ANC, 1 nm away
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 N4623T · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.