Maule MA-4 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, August 15, 1995
On August 15, 1995 at about 3:00 am local time, a Maule MA-4, registered N4741T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska (Hook Mountain Lodge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO SUSTAIN A CLIMB BEFORE HITTING TREES. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1995 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · Hook Mountain Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MA-4
- Registration
- N4741T · no longer on the register · serial 1005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING A HUNTING LODGE AIRSTRIP, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON A KNOLL, ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRSTRIP WAS ABOUT 900 FEET LONG AND SLOPED DOWNHILL ABOUT 2 DEGREES. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE WIND WAS BLOWING GENERALLY FROM THE WEST ABOUT 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS, BUT VARIED FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE AIRPLANE WAS 31 POUNDS BELOW ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH. AT ABOUT 50 MPH OF AIRSPEED, HE ATTEMPTED TO 'ROTATE' THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ROTATE, BUT TOOK OFF AS IT CONTINUED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN AIRSPEED BY LOWERING THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT DESCENDED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SEVERAL TREES ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED TAILWIND OR DOWNDRAFT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 4,200 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,571 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1995; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 900 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.