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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 4, 1982 · Maule M-4-210C · N9872M

Eagle River, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 4, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Eagle River, AK
Aircraft
Maule M-4-210C
Tail Number
N9872M
Operator
Roger Allen Pfeifer/Al Romasze
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC82DA065

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PREFLIGHTED THE FLOAT PLANE, PUMPED THE FLOATS, AND CHECKED FOR WATER. AFTER THE ENGINE START, TAXI, AND PRETAKEOFF CHECKS, HE SET THE FLAPS AT THE FIRST NOTCH. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF RUN AND TAXIED BACK FOR A LONGER RUN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING NORMAL POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STILL TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO REACH FLYING SPEED. AT 55 MPH, THE PILOT SET A SECOND NOTCH OF FLAPS AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER. HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING, SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE SLIGHTLY, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE SETTLED INTO TREES NEAR THE END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 21 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE ELEVATION OF THE LAKE WAS ABOUT 300 FT, BUT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 688 FT. THE WATER ON THE LAKE WAS REPORTED TO BE CALM.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PREFLIGHTED THE FLOAT PLANE, PUMPED THE FLOATS, AND CHECKED FOR WATER. AFTER THE ENGINE START, TAXI, AND PRETAKEOFF CHECKS, HE SET THE FLAPS AT THE FIRST NOTCH. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF RUN AND TAXIED BACK FOR A LONGER RUN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING NORMAL POWER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STILL TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO REACH FLYING SPEED. AT 55 MPH, THE PILOT SET A SECOND NOTCH OF FLAPS AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER. HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING, SO HE LOWERED THE NOSE SLIGHTLY, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE SETTLED INTO TREES NEAR THE END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 21 LBS OVER ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE ELEVATION OF THE LAKE WAS ABOUT 300 FT, BUT THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 688 FT. THE WATER ON THE LAKE WAS REPORTED TO BE CALM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 AHDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule M-4-210C
Tail NumberN9872M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRoger Allen Pfeifer/Al Romasze
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-360 · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 36 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 3 kt
Visibility60 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data