# NTSB LAX87LA174: Grumman G-44A, N32BB, Ventura, CA, April 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1987, 14:03 local (22:03 UTC)
- Place: Ventura, CA
- Coordinates: 34.279815, -119.220512 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2798&lon=-119.2205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA174

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - throttle/power control - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Ditching, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
- Fire, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD REDUCED POWER AND DESCENDED TO A LOWER ALTITUDE TO TAKE PICTURES OF A SAILBOAT RACE. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET THE PILOT MADE A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN, THEN LEVELED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE AND ABRUPTLY ADDED POWER. THE ENGINES DID NOT RESPOND IN TIME TO REGAIN ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE WATER LEFT WING FIRST. ON IMPACT A FIRE STARTED. THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY SANK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32BB-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 1475 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-44A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44a) (registry code 3951508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1475
- Airframe hours: 5500
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-B1 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Schwamm, John A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 450 in this make and model, 2,045 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OXR, 14 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 19870412009069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870412009069A), Apr 12, 1987: Gulstm G44A, Ventura, CA, Destroyed. The engines lost power and the amphibian struck the water. Two possible factors are lacked carb heat and overboost.

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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