Maule M-6 accident near Kiana, Alaska, August 31, 1984
On August 31, 1984 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Maule M-6, registered N56490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kiana, Alaska. It was a personal 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 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
- August 31, 1984 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kiana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6 · all M-6s on the register
- Registration
- N56490 · no longer on the register · serial 7405C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE KOBUK SAND DUNES AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING CRUISE FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT, SPUTTERED ONCE, PICKED UP RPM AND THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PROP WINDMILLED UNTIL GROUND CONTACT. IN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, THE PLT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO BOTH, TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON AND PUSHED THE MIXTURE TOFULL RICH. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. AFTER THE LANDING THE PLT HIRED A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. THE PLT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WATER IN THE FUEL. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY HAD 43 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT DEPARTURE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,709 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1,709 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1984; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCK Dahl Creek AK
- Destination: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 106 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
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.