# NTSB DCA78AA021: Grumman G-21A, N7777V, St Thomas, VI, September 2, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 2, 1978
- Place: St Thomas, VI · ST THOMAS, VI
- Location: 18.3533° N, 64.9365° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saint Thomas, VI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3533&lon=-64.9365&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 7 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1979
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA78AA021
- Board report AAR7909 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7909.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA78AA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3128   78/9/2  NR.ST THOMAS,USVI     GRUMMAN G-21A       CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1021                    N7777V              PX-  3  7  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      69, 42005 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        5233 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST CROIX,USVI               ST THOMAS,USVI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - OPERATIONAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT CREW
           PERSONNEL - OPERATIONAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: DEFICIENCY,COMPANY MAINTAINED EQPMT,SERVICES,REGULATION
           PERSONNEL - RULES,REGULATIONS,STANDARDS PERSONNEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- STC APPROVED FLT AT 8750LBS MGW.TEST INDICATE MGW APPROX 8150LBS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7777V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7777V-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N B-111, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-21A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-21) (registry code 3951202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: St Thomas Harbor

## 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 19780902043369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780902043369A), Sep 2, 1978: Gulstm JRF2, St Thomas, Puerto Rico, Destroyed, 4 fatal. STC approved flt at 8750LBS mgw. Test indicate mgw approx 8150LBS.

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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