# NTSB GAA16CA509: Grumman G44, N111W, Lakeport, CA, September 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2016, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Lakeport, CA - Coordinates: 39.047779, -122.895553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0478&lon=-122.8956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA509 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94079/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94079 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA509 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-down water landing and a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of an amphibious airplane reported that he departed a hard surfaced runway and flew to a lake about 3 nautical miles away. He further reported that after takeoff he failed to retract the landing gear and during the touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not use a checklist during the flight. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of an amphibious airplane reported that he departed a hard surfaced runway and flew to a lake about 3 nautical miles away. He further reported that after takeoff he failed to retract the landing gear and during the touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not use a checklist during the flight. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111W), registered now, S/N 1420, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G44 (A) - Registry model: [Grumman G-44A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44a) (registry code 3951508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1420 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 10534 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-G1D6 295 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING GO-480-G1D6 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 2015 - Departed: 1O2, Lakeport, CA - Destination: NONE, Lakeport, CA - Airport: 1O2, Lampson Field - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 2,350 total, 820 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KUKI, 16 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 20160917017969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160917017969A), Sep 17, 2016: Grumman G-44A, Lakeport, CA, Substantial damage. On September 17, 2016 at approximately 18:25Z on clearlake lake, Lakeport, CA. N111W, Grumman G-44A / navy J4F-2, widgeon (floatplane). As the floatplane was… ## Other investigations on N111W (2) 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. - [NTSB DEN79FTM13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FTM13), Mar 30, 1979: Grumman G44A (N111W), Delta, UT, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW69F0319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0319), Dec 27, 1968: Grumman G-44 (N111W), Lutcher, LA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94079. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.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.