Maule M-4-220C accident near Homer, Alaska, April 16, 1982
On April 16, 1982 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Maule M-4-220C, registered N40343, was destroyed in an accident near Homer, Alaska (Homer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- April 16, 1982 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · Homer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40343 · no longer on the register · serial 2119C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED HOMER AIRPORT ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AFTER BEING ADVISED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF (8 MINUTES) THE AIRCRAFT DOVE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND CRASHED NEAR THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. PRIOR TO TAKING OFF, THE PILOT HAD INDICATED THAT HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET TO ANCHORAGE TO PARTICIPATE IN A GUN SHOW.
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: 67 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 823 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 2:53 pm
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.