Maule M-5 accident near King Salmon, Alaska, December 16, 2000
On December 16, 2000 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Maule M-5, registered N5644N, was substantially damaged in an accident near King Salmon, Alaska (King Salmon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during the landing approach due to the pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane and contamination (water) in the carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2000 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- King Salmon, Alaska · King Salmon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N5644N · registry record · serial 7347C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was beginning a landing approach, and when he reduced engine power, the engine sputtered. The pilot said he turned the engine boost pump on, and verified that the fuel selector was on the 'BOTH' position. He then increased the throttle control, and the engine quit. The airplane descended and collided with three runway approach lighting system assemblies, short of the runway threshold. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, the left wingtip, and the leading edge of the right wing. Following the accident, the airplane was examined by a mechanic who found 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water in the carburetor.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 513 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 432 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 702 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2000; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAKN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from PAK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5644N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.