Maule M-6-235 accident near Merrill Pass, Alaska, October 2, 1993
On October 2, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Maule M-6-235, registered N5647N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merrill Pass, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT WEATHER CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Merrill Pass, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6-235 · all M-6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N5647N · no longer on the register · serial 7421C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH MERRILL PASS IN WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE FORECAST TO BE MARGINAL. OTHER PILOTS IN THE AREA REPORTED THE PASS WAS MARGINAL TO CLOSED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A BOX CANYON ONE VALLEY BEFORE REACHING THE PASS. THE TURN REQUIRED INTO THE BOX CANYON WAS THE SAME TURN REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE PASS. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON THE GLACIER AT THE 4000-FOOT-LEVEL, 90 DEGREES TO THE LONG AXIS OF THE BOX CANYON. THE GLACIER AND SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS WERE COVERED WITH FRESH SNOW.
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: 1,309 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1993; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.