Maule M6-235 accident near Bethel, Alaska, June 6, 1994
On June 6, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Maule M6-235, registered N56447, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel 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 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 1994
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M6-235 · all M6-235s on the register
- Registration
- N56447 · registry record · serial 738C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S ATTORNEY, AFTER LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL BEGAN TO 'DRAG', AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE TURN AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT THE RIGHT AXLE HAD FRACTURED AND WAS BENT UPWARD. SUBSEQUENT VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE AXLE SHOWED NO FATIGUE STRIATIONS VISIBLE ON THE FRACTURE SURFACES. THE FRACTURE SURFACE EXHIBITED CHARACTERISTICS OF 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
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 23 in the last 30 days; 4,860 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 17Z Manokotak AK at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,398 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N56447 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Maule M-6 81 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Maule 1,346 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 4,223 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bethel Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,144 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC94LA068.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.