Maule M5-235C accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, April 17, 1994
On April 17, 1994 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Maule M5-235C, registered N9237E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN HER FOOT INTERFERED AND RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1994 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M5-235C · all M5-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9237E · registry record · serial 7141C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING, PILOT APPLIED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE CENTER LINE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE RUDDER PEDAL THE TOE OF HER BOOT GOT HUNG UP ON THE AILERON CABLE THAT RUNS ALONG SIDE THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE. REALIZING THAT THE PLANE WAS GOING TO GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SHE APPLIED POWER TO GO-AROUND. THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT SIGN JUST AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 625 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1993; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
Other NTSB records under N9237E 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.