What happened
On September 13, 2025, at approximately 12:28 Alaska daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, registration N343GA, was involved in an accident near Point MacKenzie, Alaska. The flight was being operated under Part 91 regulations as a personal flight.
The pilot departed Merrill Field (MRI) in Anchorage, Alaska, at roughly 12:20, intending to land at a private airstrip near Point MacKenzie. While flying the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at approximately 80 knots with the first notch of flaps extended, the pilot proceeded to the base leg. During the transition to the base leg, the pilot slowed the aircraft to approximately 65 knots and extended the second notch of flaps. At that moment, the airplane immediately rolled to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to recover the aircraft, it impacted the ground and came to rest on a northerly heading.
The pilot sustained one serious injury.