Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Sunday, July 26, 1987 13:54 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND FROM THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FOUND THE BRAKE SHAFT BROKEN AT THE SHAFT REDUCTION RETAINING CLIP POINT. HE INDICATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME AS THE BRONZE RETAINER ALSO FAILED. HE ALSO ADMITTED TO BEARING DOWN WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE ON THE PEDAL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED SWERVING TOWARD THE AREA WEST OF THE RUNWAY. THE MOUNTING FOR THE BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND BROKEN WITH SIGNATURES SIMILAR TO OVERLOAD FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1354
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99501
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MERRILL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 136
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 136
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 90
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1364
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 26 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1401
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34617
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49846
NTSB Number ANC87FA107
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-6
Aircraft Series Identifier M-6
Aircraft Serial Number 7384C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 11 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 772
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLEN J SHONTZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 112050
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99511
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALLEN J. SHONTZ
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 112050
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99511
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5NK
Departure City NAKNEK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2469
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --