# NTSB ANC79DA015: Grumman G-44A, N444W, Cordova, AK, October 31, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 31, 1978
- Place: Cordova, AK · CORDOVA, AK
- Location: 60.5428° N, 145.7575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cordova, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5428&lon=-145.7575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138091
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC79DA015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DA015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4358  78/10/31 NR.CORDOVA,AK         GRUMMAN G-44A       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38,
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N444W               PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CORDOVA,AK                  JUNEAU,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      36
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE-5/21/79.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444W-2012-07-09), registration cancelled 2012-07-09, S/N 1450 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-44A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44a) (registry code 3951508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19781031044059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781031044059A), Oct 31, 1978: Gruman G44A, Cordova, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Recovery date-5/21/79.

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.

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