# NTSB SEA86LA015: Grumman G21A, N72PR, Long Island, AK, October 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1985, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Long Island, AK
- Coordinates: 55.609497, -131.580718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6095&lon=-131.5807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40327/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water,rough (cause)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING WITH THREE TO FOUR FOOT SWELLS AND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMING OFF THE STEP, A WAVE STRUCK THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N72PR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G21A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1164
- Airframe hours: 17298
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Westflight Aviation, doing business as Westflight Aviation
- Registered owner: Aviiation Associates, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1985, 6 hours before
- Departed: KTN, KETCHIKAN, AK
- Destination: NONE, LONG ISLAND, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,750 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 8,400 as pilot in command, 360 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F

## 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 19851015073569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851015073569A), Oct 15, 1985: Grumav G21A, Long Island, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft coming off step after water landing when tail section was hit by 3 foot swell. Damage to elevator.

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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