Maule M-5-235C accident near Palmer, Alaska, April 4, 2023
On April 4, 2023 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1980 Maule M-5-235C, registered N5644W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Palmer, Alaska (Wick Air airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around maneuver while landing with excess airspeed into a short strip, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2023 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Wick Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5-235C, built 1980 · all M-5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5644W · registry record · serial 7350C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing on the 1,300 ft. long, gravel-covered runway, he inadvertently touched down with excess airspeed and did not have enough braking action to stop the airplane. The airplane subsequently impacted a snow berm at the end of the airstrip and nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the left-wing struts. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,518 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 3,518 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 3, 2016
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,664 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2021; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 2,480 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from PAAQ, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 041653Z 34008KT 10SM BKN070 OVC095 01/M08 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP105 T00061083
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5644W 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.