Maule M-5 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 1, 1994
On July 1, 1994, a Maule M-5, registered N373X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING TECHNIQUE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING, TIRE FAILURE, AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1994
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N373X · registry record · serial 6176C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED, AND HE BALKED THE LANDING. DURING THE SECOND LANDING HE MADE A 3-POINT WHEEL TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED UNEVENTFULLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN VEERED UNCONTROLLABLY OFF THE STRIP INTO A DITCH. THE RIGHT WHEEL TIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A SLIT AND WAS DEFLATED.
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
- Flight time: 429 hours in all; 357 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1993; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Homer AK at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.