Maule M-4-220C N40677

Summary

On 24 June 1999 at about 20:20 local time, a Maule M-4-220C registered N40677, operated by Walt Warner, was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1999 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

63.6096, -154.7809

Aircraft

Maule M-4-220C

Registration

N40677

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Walt Warner

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA082

Nobody was injured.

A separation of the number 4 engine cylinder, and a fracture of the number 4 engine connecting rod.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot reported that about 15 minutes after departure, the engine began to run rough, and lose power. He said that while performing the engine emergency procedures, he smelled smoke in the cabin, and he selected a forced landing area on a river bank bordered by trees. During the landing roll, the airplane's left wing collided with a stand of trees, the airplane pivoted 180 degrees to the left, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, examined the airplane wreckage on June 24th. The inspector reported that the top portion of the number four engine cylinder was separated between the cylinder barrel and the cylinder head, and added that the piston connecting rod was fractured.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.