Maule M-5 accident near Nr. Mcgrath, Alaska, September 4, 1982
On September 4, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Maule M-5, registered N51470, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nr. Mcgrath, Alaska (Unimproved Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nr. Mcgrath, Alaska · Unimproved Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N51470 · registry record · serial 6009C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN A TAKEOFF FROM AN UNIMPROVED STRIP WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THE WINDS WERE BLOWING FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 20 GUSTING 35 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE PLANE HAD ROLLED ABOUT 300 FT, THE AIRSPEED INDICATED OVER 40 KTS. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 380 FT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW MOMENTARILY, THEN DROPPED SUDDENLY AND BOUNCED OFF THE END OF THE STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED SLOWLY INTO RISING TERRAIN CLIPPING THE TOP OF BRUSH. ABOUT 500 FT BEYOND THE STRIP, THE PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD NOT CLEAR LARGER TREES, SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND FLEW INTO THE SMALL TREES. REPORTEDLY, THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS SUBJECT TO DOWNDRAFTS WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE EAST. THE ELEVATION OF THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 1800 FT.
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: 1,641 hours in all; 1,641 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 1,610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nr. Mcgrath AK at 10:30 am
- Destination: MCG Mcgrath AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 450 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.