# NTSB ANC93LA144: Grumman G-21, N1530H, Togiak River, AK, August 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1993, 16:00 local (Aug 14, 1993, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Togiak River, AK - Coordinates: 59.209831, -160.540649 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.2098&lon=-160.5406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2403/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA144 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT DECISION MAKING AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis PILOT IN COMMAND OF AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE MISJUDGED THE LENGTH OF TAKEOFF RUN NEEDED TO GET AIRBORNE OFF AN AREA OF A REMOTE FISHING RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT AT THE TURN OF THE RIVER. SUFFICIENT SEALANE WAS AVAILABLE IF THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN TAXIED UP STREAM. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1993, at approximately 1600 Alaska daylight time, a Grumman G21 Goose amphibian airplane, N1530H, collided with riverbank terrain during a water takeoff from the Togiak River, 15 miles up-river from the village of Togiak, Alaska. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 135 by Phillip Bingman, d.b.a. Fresh Water Adventures, Inc., as a domestic, non-scheduled, passenger flight for sport fishing drift boat charters. Visual meteorological conditions existed and the flight was destined for Dillingham, approximately 50 miles to the east. The airline transport pilot and four of the five passengers who boarded on the Togiak River were uninjured. One passenger received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told investigators that he had landed in an unfamiliar spot and did not have sufficient sea lane to make the takeoff successfully. He said that despite full power, the airplane struck the bank and trees; cartwheeled, destroying "half the left wing and tearing off the airplane's nose, back to the rudder peddles." Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees witnesses the accident, and were interviewed by the Alaska State Troopers. The sport fishermen-occupants of the airplane reportedly had drifted to a point on the river below the normal pickup location on the Togiak River. That location is normally a wide and long stretch of water abeam the mouth of the Geshik River. Below that area, at the scene of the accident, the Togiak River winds through the wilderness with few straight stretches over a quarter mile. The NTSB requested the Alaska State Troopers to assess the accident takeoff area and current velocity. An Alaska game biologist reported that the current in the accident location was flowing at 2.7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1530H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-21 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: B-140 - Airframe hours: 18204 - Engines: P&W R-985-14-B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Bingman, Phillip L., doing business as Fresh Water Adventures, Inc. - Registered owner: Phillip L. Bingman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 9, 1930, 32 hours before - Destination: DLG, DILLINGHAM, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport, military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,391 total, 3,043 in this make and model, 18,775 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DLG, 40 nm away ## 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 19930813029419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930813029419A), Aug 13, 1993: Grumav G21, Togiak River, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to depart insuficient River water area. Struck bank and trees. Cartwheeled. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.