Maule M-7-235 accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, September 19, 2003
On September 19, 2003 at about 3:40 am local time, a Maule M-7-235, registered N5657A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcgrath, Alaska. It was a business 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
Fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper placement of the fuel selector to a nearly empty fuel tank prior to takeoff, resulting in a loss of engine power, and an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2003 · about 3:40 am local time
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-7-235 · all M-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N5657A · registry record · serial 4013C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from an off-airport site in his tailwheel airplane. He indicated he inadvertently left the fuel selector on a nearly empty fuel tank. Shortly after liftoff, the engine sputtered, and lost all power. The airplane subsequently descended into trees and received structural damage to the wings and lift struts. In his NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, in the section: Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote, "Land and takeoff with fuel selector set on BOTH tanks."
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
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 9,210 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 9,149 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 9, 2003
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2002; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCG Mcgrath AK at 9:20 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N5657A 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.