Maule M-6-235 accident near Bettles, Alaska, August 31, 1984
On August 31, 1984 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Maule M-6-235, registered N5651D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bettles, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1984 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Bettles, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6-235 · all M-6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N5651D · registry record · serial 747C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN OVERHANGING TREE BRANCH DURING A RIVER TAKEOFF. THE PLT WAS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A BEND IN THE RIVER WHILE ON THE 'STEP' FOR TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID HE HAD VERY LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN THE MODEL ACFT AND IT GOT LIGHT ON THE FLOATS AND SKIPPED IN THE TURN QUICKER THAN HE WAS 'USED TO' IN OTHER ACFT.
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: 228 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1984; 247 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTT Bettles AK
- Destination: Walker Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5651D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-6 81 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,346 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 4,223 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bettles Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,144 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC84LA151.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.