# NTSB MIA78FA093: Grumman G21A, N323, St.Thomas, VI, June 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 4, 1978
- Place: St.Thomas, VI · ST.THOMAS,VI, VI
- Location: 18.3533° N, 64.9365° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saint Thomas, VI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3533&lon=-64.9365&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 11 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FA093
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA093

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3993   78/6/4  NR.ST.THOMAS,VI       GRUMMAN G21A        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 11500
        TIME - 1435                    N323                PX-  0  0 10  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 2733 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SEA PLANE BASE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ST.THOMAS,VI                 ST CROIX,VIRGIN IS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: RAM AIR ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- CARB AIRBOX HOT AIR TO COLD AIR VALVE LINKAGE RETAINING BOLT FAILED CAUSING AIR STARVATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N323](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323-2009-07-27), registration cancelled 2009-07-27, S/N 1191, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G21A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-21A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-21a) (registry code 3951204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Sea Plane Base

## 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 19780604042639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780604042639A), Jun 4, 1978: Gruman G21A, St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Substantial damage. Carb airbox hot air to cold air valve linkage retaining bolt failausing air starvation.

## Other investigations on N323 (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 LAX66A0091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66A0091), May 24, 1966: Grumman G-21 (N323), Catalina Is, 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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