# NTSB ERA25LA341: Grumman G-44A, N402E, Beaver Cove, ME, September 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 6, 2025, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Beaver Cove, ME - Coordinates: 45.562801, -69.626864 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5628&lon=-69.6269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200978 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200978/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200978 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA341 ## Probable cause The pilot’s distraction and failure to monitor the airplane’s flight path, which resulted in controlled flight into a lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis After performing a flyby of nearby event, the pilot of the vintage amphibious airplane flew the airplane out over a lake near the seabase. While maneuvering, he attempted to contact people on the ground utilizing the common traffic advisory frequency he had heard people using earlier in the week. After failing to reach anyone, the pilot set the flight controls for a slow descent. Then he used his mobile phone to send a text message asking a friend for the radio frequency in use, and upon reply, changed the frequency. After setting the phone down, the pilot looked up as the airplane impacted the surface of the lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front fuselage and hull, left wing, and both sponsons. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N402E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1444 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 9298 - Engines: Lycoming GO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming GO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lost In Time LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 2024 - Departed: 3B1, Greenville, ME - Airport: 3B1, Greenville Muni - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,750 total, 2,070 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: GNR, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KGNR 061356Z AUTO VRB04KT 19/16 A2997 RMK AO1 SLP147 T01890161 ## 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 20250906012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250906012629A), Sep 6, 2025: Grumman G-44A, Beaver Cove, ME, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed 3B1 expecting to form up with two other seaplanes for a flyover of the seaplane base. Pilot stated that he didn't see the other aircraft and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200978. 14.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 12.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19407782&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19407792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19407996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Statement%20Followup-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19301632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.