Maule M-6-235 accident near Merrill Pass, AK

On October 2, 1993, a Maule M-6-235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Merrill Pass, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

October 2, 1993

Place

Merrill Pass, AK

Aircraft

Maule M-6-235 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

61.220°N, 149.851°W

NTSB ID

20001211X13498

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 2, 1993, at 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Maule M-6-235 airplane, N5647N, registered to the Pilot- in-Command, collided with glacier/terrain while maneuvering to reverse direction in a large box canyon located immediately southeast of Merrill Pass. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was Bethel, Alaska. The Private Certificated Pilot-in-Command, the sole occupant, was fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed, and according to witnesses on the west side of Merrill Pass, marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 53 year old Pilot-in-Command was the holder of a Private Pilot certificate, number 1618778, with airplane single engine land and sea ratings. He was also the holder of a Federal Aviation Administration class 3 medical certificate, with no limitations, dated 4/22/93. Examination of the Pilot-in-Command's logbook showed that he met the requirements for a biennial flight review based upon the issuance of his Airplane Single Engine Sea Rating on April 25, 1992. The records show that the Pilot did not possess an instrument rating and his logbook showed only 5.4 hours of simulated hood time, only 4.1 hours of simulator time, and no actual weather experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, N5647N, was registered to the Pilot-in-Command and the aircraft logbooks show that the airplane had been removed from floats and placed on wheel landing gear o

Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT WEATHER CONDITION.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.