Maule M-5 accident near Ruby, Alaska, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 4:00 am local time, a Maule M-5, registered N9026E, was destroyed in an accident near Ruby, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL INFLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AND ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Ruby, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N9026E · no longer on the register · serial 7063C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS STATED HE SAW THE AIRPLANE APPROACH THEIR LOCATION WHEN IT SUDDENLY BANKED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE YUKON RIVER. FAA RECORDS SHOW THAT THE PERSON SEATED IN THE PILOT'S SEAT HAD HIS COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE REVOKED ON JULY 10, 1991, FOR OPERATING A CIVIL AIRCRAFT UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL IN EXCESS OF .04 PERCENT. THE TOXICOLOGICAL REPORT FOR THIS ACCIDENT SHOWED THAT THE PILOT HAD A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF .195 PERCENT.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N9026E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.