Accident Overview
On September 27, 2008, at approximately 1540 Alaska daylight time, a Maule M-5-210C airplane, registration N289X, sustained substantial damage when it crashed onto a roadway after a loss of engine power during takeoff from Delta Junction Airport in Delta Junction, Alaska. The aircraft was being operated by the pilot as a personal local flight under visual flight rules (VFR) in accordance with Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Witness Reports
According to an Alaska State Trooper who spoke with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on the day of the accident, witnesses reported seeing the airplane taxi the length of the runway three times before attempting takeoff. During the takeoff and initial climb, witnesses heard the engine lose power, after which the airplane descended and impacted a roadway. The trooper noted structural damage to the wings and fuselage.
Pilot Statements
The pilot, who held no valid pilot certificate according to FAA records, reiterated the witness accounts to the trooper. He expressed a belief that someone may have tampered with his fuel supply and that there were potential issues with his pilot’s certificate. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In a subsequent interview with an FAA air safety inspector, the pilot mentioned that he had considered the possibility of carburetor ice while taxiing. During the loss of partial engine power, he inadvertently pulled the mixture control instead of the carburetor heat.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector recovered approximately two ounces of fuel from the aircraft’s gascolator after the accident. The fuel appeared light blue in color and smelled like aviation fuel. It was clear, and no impurities, water, or other contaminants were visible. A water paste test indicated no water present. The quantity of fuel collected was insufficient for further testing. The pilot did not submit an NTSB accident report form as requested.