Maule M-4-210 accident near Northway, Alaska, July 7, 1994
On July 7, 1994 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Maule M-4-210, registered N9808M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska (Northway 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 FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT FITTINGS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER WELDS BY THE MAINTENANCE REPAIR FACILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT THAT PRECIPITATED THE GEAR FAILURE WERE THE WIND GUSTS, AND THE PILOT NOT ADEQUATELY COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH INDUCED HEAVY SIDE LOADS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1994 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · Northway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-210 · all M-4-210s on the register
- Registration
- N9808M · registry record · serial 1041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING THE PLANE'S DIVERGENCE FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING ON INITIAL ROLLOUT DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. FAA INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE WELDS TO THE LANDING GEAR LONGERON FITTINGS DID NOT HAVE PROPER PENETRATION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FITTINGS WERE INSTALLED BY AN FAA REPAIR STATION WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPAIRED AFTER AN ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 300 FLIGHT HOURS PREVIOUS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 293 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 1:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ORT
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.