Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a bounced landing and an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing roll out on a remote, gravel/sand bar, the main landing gear wheels encountered an area of uneven sand and the airplane bounced and pitched into the air. She attempted to correct to no avail. Subsequently, when the airplane touched down from the bounce, the wheels dug into the sand, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wing struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC23LA047 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 5, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Kusatan, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Mcarthur River Gravel Bar (NONE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Maule M-5-210C
- N-number
- N51592
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1974
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.