# NTSB MIA94LA039: Grumman G-44A, N58DG, Leesburg, FL, December 17, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1993, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Coordinates: 28.799671, -81.879928 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7997&lon=-81.8799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37471
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37471/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA039

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE OVER GLASSY WATER DURING LANDING AND INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,glassy
  - flare - initiated, pilot in command
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - touchdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED GLASSY WATER AS HE INITIATED HIS LANDING FLARE. HE THEN LOST ALL DEPTH PERCEPTION AND BEFORE HE INITIATE A GO-AROUND THE AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On December 17, 1993, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Grumman G-44A, N58DG, registered to David S. Garber, crashed while landing on Lake Griffin, Leesburg, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated at Leesburg Municipal Airport, Leesburg, Florida, on December 17, 1993, at 1225.

The pilot stated he was landing on Lake Griffin and planned to terminate the flight on the ramp behind his house. While in the landing flare he encountered glassy water and lost all depth perception. Before he could initiate a go-around the aircraft touched down inadvertently in a flat attitude and the aircraft immediately flipped tail over nose. The aircraft came to rest inverted in the water and remained afloat.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N58DG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1415
- Airframe hours: 8801
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-B1D 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David S. Garber
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1993, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; military, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 30 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 19931217047029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931217047029A), Dec 17, 1993: Gulstm G44A, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. Lost depth perception landing on grassy lake water. Flared too high. Hit flat and flipped.

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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