# NTSB ANC87LA086: Grumman G-44, N176MS, Wood River, AK, June 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1987, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Wood River, AK
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA086

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS TAKING OFF AND AFTER INITIAL CLIMBOUT, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, THE AIRPLANE STOPPED CLIMBING. THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL BUT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STALLED THE AIRCRAFT ON CLIMBOUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N176MS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1324
- Airframe hours: 220
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-B1D 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Neil G. Bergt
- Registered owner: Neil G. Bergt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAKE NERKA, AK
- Destination: TOGIAK, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,111 total, 13,111 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F

## 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 19870630027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870630027119A), Jun 30, 1987: Gulstm G44, Wood River, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled the aircraft on climbout. Reduced power. Returned to water. Unable to stop. Hit trees on the shoreline.

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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