# NTSB MIA08LA048: Grumman G-21A, N21A, Marathon, FL, January 29, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2008, 17:23 local (22:23 UTC)
- Place: Marathon, FL
- Coordinates: 24.874721, -81.230003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.8747&lon=-81.2300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67444/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67444
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA048

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a water landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-21A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3951204), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-21A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3951204), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-21A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=3951204), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After departing an airport and completing the checklist, the pilot proceeded to a water-work area. The pilot stated that other than that, he had no further recollection of the flight. The passenger stated that the pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings, and that during a water landing, the left wing contacted the water, and the airplane water looped. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or engine, and none were reported by the pilot or passenger.

## Factual narrative

On January 29, 2008, about 1723 eastern standard time, a Grumman G-21A, amphibian airplane N21A, impacted the ocean during landing near Marathon, Florida. The certificated airline transport pilot and passenger received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from the Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) in Marathon, Florida, on January 29, 2008, about 1615.

According to the pilot he departed MTH and after take off and the checklist accomplished he proceeded in a westerly direction to inspect a water-work area. The pilot stated that other then that, he had no further recollection of the flight.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the passenger stated that the pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings. During a water landing, the left wing contacted the water and the airplane water looped. A Good Samaritan rescued them from the water in his boat and brought them ashore where rescue personal were waiting.

Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or engine, and none were reported by the pilot or passenger.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21A), registered now, S/N B129, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-21A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-21A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-21a) (registry code 3951204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: B129
- Airframe hours: 24456
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 38 hours before
- Departed: MTH, Marathon, FL
- Destination: MTH, Marathon, FL
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: MTH, The Florida Keys Marathon Arpt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: MTH

## 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 20080129831379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080129831379A), Jan 29, 2008: Grumav G21A, Marathon, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft impacted the ocean causing it to flip. Aircraft was destroyed during the landing attempt.

## Other investigations on N21A (1)

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 ANC02LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA052), Jun 17, 2002: Grumman G-21 (N21A), Northway, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67444. 937 KB in all.

- Pilot-operator aircraft accident report NTSB form 61201 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 937 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=226014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%2061201-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.

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