Maule M-6 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 26, 1987
On July 26, 1987 at about 9:54 pm local time, a Maule M-6, registered N49846, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a personal 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
- July 26, 1987 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6 · all M-6s on the register
- Registration
- N49846 · no longer on the register · serial 7384C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND FROM THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FOUND THE BRAKE SHAFT BROKEN AT THE SHAFT REDUCTION RETAINING CLIP POINT. HE INDICATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME AS THE BRONZE RETAINER ALSO FAILED. HE ALSO ADMITTED TO BEARING DOWN WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE ON THE PEDAL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED SWERVING TOWARD THE AREA WEST OF THE RUNWAY. THE MOUNTING FOR THE BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND BROKEN WITH SIGNATURES SIMILAR TO OVERLOAD FAILURE.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 772 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5NK Naknek AK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from MRI, 5 miles away
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.