Unimproved Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nr. Mcgrath, Alaska 99627
Saturday, September 4, 1982 10:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT BEGAN A TAKEOFF FROM AN UNIMPROVED STRIP WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THE WINDS WERE BLOWING FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 20 GUSTING 35 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE PLANE HAD ROLLED ABOUT 300 FT, THE AIRSPEED INDICATED OVER 40 KTS. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 380 FT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW MOMENTARILY, THEN DROPPED SUDDENLY AND BOUNCED OFF THE END OF THE STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED SLOWLY INTO RISING TERRAIN CLIPPING THE TOP OF BRUSH. ABOUT 500 FT BEYOND THE STRIP, THE PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD NOT CLEAR LARGER TREES, SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND FLEW INTO THE SMALL TREES. REPORTEDLY, THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS SUBJECT TO DOWNDRAFTS WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE EAST. THE ELEVATION OF THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 1800 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone --
Event City NR. MCGRATH
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99627
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport UNIMPROVED STRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 50
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1959
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51470
NTSB Number ANC82DA090
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-5
Aircraft Series Identifier M-5
Aircraft Serial Number 6009C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 300
Airframe Hours 2000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE E. PALMER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 878
Aircraft Owner City PALMER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99645
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGE E. PALMER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 878
Operator City PALMER
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99645
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NR. MCGRATH
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCG
Destination City MCGRATH
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 450
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --