Maule M-5 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, July 2, 1982
On July 2, 1982 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Maule M-5, registered N6172M, was destroyed in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Chena Marina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- July 2, 1982 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Chena Marina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N6172M · no longer on the register · serial 7184C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EARLIER IN THE DAY THE PLT RETURNED FROM A FLT AFTER EXPERIENCING A ROUGH RUNNING ENG & CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE ACFT AGAIN DEPARTED THE CHENA MARINA ARPT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT LEVEL OFF APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 350 FT AGL. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT PITCHING UP & DOWN ERRACTICALLY AS IT LEVELED OFF. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A RIGHT BANK & WAS ROLLING OUT AFTER A 90 DEG HEADING CHANGE WHEN THE ENG SPUTTERED & QUIT. THE NOSE OF THE ACFT DROPPED & THE ACFT FELL IN A NEARLY VERTICAL ATTITUDE. ENG EXAMINATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF WATER & RUST CONTAMINATION IN THE CARBURETOR & FUEL PUMP. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ACFT WAS 379 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT & THE AFT CG EXCEEDED BY 1.3 INCHES.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,344 hours in all; 730 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 744 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Fairbanks AK at 11:18 am
- Destination: Lake Illiama AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 151°F (66°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.