# NTSB LAX79FA040: Grumman G-21A, N11CS, Catalina Is, CA, April 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1979
- Place: Catalina Is, CA · CATALINA IS, CA
- Location: 33.4050° N, 118.4158° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of CATALINA (AVX), within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4050&lon=-118.4158&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious, 7 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144094
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4001  79/4/14    CATALINA IS,CA      GRUMMAN G-21A       CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1007                    N11CS               PX-  1  2  7  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      43, 9335 TOTAL HOURS, 455
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PEBBLY BEACH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN PEDRO,CA                CATALINA IS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       67
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LOW ALT STRAIGHT-IN APCH TOWARD SEAPLANE RAMP.GO-AROUND AFTR NOTICING BOAT WAKES.PAX DROWNED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11CS-1980-07-10), registration cancelled 1980-07-10, S/N 1166, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-21A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-21A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-21a) (registry code 3951204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pebbly Beach

## 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 19790414017119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790414017119A), Apr 14, 1979: Gruman G21, Avalon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot attempting go around dug wing tip into water and crashed. Low fog over water.

## Other investigations on N11CS (3)

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 LAX77FUA17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUA17), Jun 10, 1977: Grumman G-21A (N11CS), Catalina, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX72AL071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL071), Dec 12, 1971: Grumman G-21 (N11CS), Long Beach, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX72AL009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL009), Jul 30, 1971: Grumman G-21A (N11CS), Avalon, CA, substantial damage

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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