Maule M-5-235 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, August 8, 2007
On August 8, 2007 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Maule M-5-235, registered N56366, was substantially damaged in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska. It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student while landing, which resulted in an undershoot and an in-flight collision with an object. Factors contributing to the accident are the dual student's misjudged altitude/distance and delayed response in relinquishing the flight controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2007 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235 · all M-5-235s on the register
- Registration
- N56366 · registry record · serial 7308C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was providing flight instruction to a certificated commercial pilot for a tailwheel endorsement under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The CFI reported that while on final approach to land, he inadvertently allowed the commercial pilot to descend prior to reaching their intended touchdown point. He said that his verbal command to initiate a go-around was not followed by the commercial pilot, and that he was unable to move the commercial pilot's hand from the throttle in order to add full engine power. The airplane drifted to the right and struck a VASI light box. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left wing lift strut, and fuselage. The CFI noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,716 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 1,665 as pilot in command; 928 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,051.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PATK Talkeetna AK at 6:11 pm
- Destination: PATK Talkeetna AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TKA
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 N56366 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.