# NTSB BFO94LA151: Grumman G-44, N1471N, Nantucket, MA, August 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1994, 15:07 local (19:07 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA - Location: 41.2714° N, 70.0959° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nantucket, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2714&lon=-70.0959&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8971/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA151 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH WATER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis During takeoff, with the airplane 'on the step,' the pilot saw a swell coming towards the airplane from the left. The pilot stated that before he could reduce the power, the airplane veered to the right. He stated aileron input did not seem to upright the airplane so he then reduced the power. He stated the airplane impacted the water on the left side of its nose and then nosed over. Post accident examination of airframe and engines did not reveal any anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1994, at 1520 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-44, N1471N, impacted the water during takeoff from Madaket Harbor, Nantucket, Massachusetts. The pilot received minor injuries. The amphibian airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the takeoff began without incident. He stated, "Transition to the step was smooth...Once on the step there was no indication of engine trouble or control problems. Just prior to lifting off the water, out of the corner of my left eye, I spotted some contrary water what looked to be to me some kind of swell and decided to pull the power, but before I could do so, the plane veered extremely to the right. Attempts to level the plane with opposite aileron was not responsive." The pilot stated that he "...pulled the power back..." and "...was able to keep the plane from rolling completely over." He stated the airplane's left side of the nose impacted the water and the airplane nosed over. Post accident examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1471N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1471N - Airframe hours: 6176 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-480 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Strange Bird Inc - Registered owner: Strange Bird Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1994, 4 hours before - Departed: HTO, EAST HAMPTON, NY - Destination: HTO, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; flight engineer, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,498 total, 191 in this make and model, 1,145 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ACK, 1 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 19940825023299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940825023299A), Aug 25, 1994: Gulstm G44A, Nantucket, MA, Substantial damage. During on step water takeoff. Saw a swell. Veered right float under water. Cut power rocked opposite. Nosed over. 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.