Maule M4-220-C accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 21, 1991
On June 21, 1991 at about 8:07 am local time, a Maule M4-220-C, registered N40304, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks Int'L Airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND EXCEEDING THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIGH VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1991 · about 8:07 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks Int'L Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M4-220-C · all M4-220-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40304 · registry record · serial 2078C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA NEXT TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS REVEALED THAT BOTH FLOATS HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER IN THEM. THE PIC STATED HE BELIEVED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT BY 200 POUNDS.
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: 478 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin GA-350-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Nowitna River AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:07 am from FAI, 1 miles away
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.