# Accident 19980415006889A: Grumav G21, Unalaska, AK, April 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 15, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Unalaska, AK
- Airport: Unalaska
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: PNSA
- Location: 57.7905° N, 152.3992° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7905&lon=-152.3992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22932, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22932) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman G-21A (registry code 3951204, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-21a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMAV G21
- Reported engine: PWA R985AN14B
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,136 total, 83 in this make and model, 83 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980415006889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

UNABLE LAND AMPHIBIAN AT DUT. LANDED ON WATAER TO AWAIT CLEARING. PORPOISED ON A SWELL DAMAGED HORIZONTAL STABILIZE. (FROM .4)  THE PILOT LANDED THE SEAPLANE IN A PROTECTED BAY IN ORDER TO WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO IMPROVE AT HIS DESTINATION.  HE SAID THE WIND AND SEAS WERE CALM; HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE SEAPLANE ENCOUNTERED A SWELL.  THE SEAPLANE PORPOSED, AND THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE WATER.                       (-23) ON APRIL 15, 1998, AT ABOUT 12:00 ADT A GRUMMAN GOOSE G-21-A SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE MAKING A WATER LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SWELLS DAMAGING THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THIS OCCURRED NEAR DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT CALLED COMPANY OPERATIONS AND A RESCUE BOAT WAS DISPATCHED TO PICK UP THE PASSENGERS. AFTER EVACUATION OF PASSENGERS TO THE RESCUE BOAT, THE PILOT WATER TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO DUTCH HARBOR, AK. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED, NO INJURIES OCCURRED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA038), Apr 15, 1998: Grumman G-21 (N22932), Dutch Harbor, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to identify the swells prior to landing. A factor was the water swells.

## Other reports on N22932 (5)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040404006449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040404006449A), Apr 4, 2004: Grumav G21A (N22932), Unalaska, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The flying pilot at the time of the accident was the second-in-command (SIC), [privacy data omitted]. [privacy data omitted] Had received a 14 CFR, part…
- [Incident 19930107000249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930107000249I), Jan 7, 1993: Grumav G21A (N22932), Akutan, AK, Minor damage. On water landing pilot reported wind gust. Bounced. Aircraft then hit water with left wing low. Float broke off.
- [Incident 19861107072769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861107072769I), Nov 7, 1986: Grumav G21A (N22932), Kodiak, AK, Minor damage. During turn wing float submerged and float attachment fitting broke. Float separated and aircraft capsized.
- [Accident 19790917036239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790917036239A), Sep 17, 1979: Gruman G21A (N22932), Catalina Island, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Elevator control cable parted just after liftoff. Amphibian hit water, nose down, sank.
- [Incident 19790307018879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790307018879I), Mar 7, 1979: Grumav G21A (N22932), Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. Left engine quit, right engine ran intermittently during takeoff. Probable fuel cell design problem plus line clog.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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