# NTSB WPR23LA152: Grumman G-44A, N444M, Los Alamos, NM, April 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 5, 2023, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Los Alamos, NM · KLAM - Coordinates: 35.88, -106.27 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8800&lon=-106.2700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 107035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107035/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107035 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA152 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion and ground collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3951508), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Grumman G-44A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=3951508), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis Both pilots reported that during the takeoff roll, the pilot receiving instruction lost directional control of the airplane and it veered off the runway. The airplane subsequently collided with a parked unoccupied airplane. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damaged. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was not equipped with brakes at the right seat position. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444M), registered now, S/N 1411 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-44A - Registry model: [Grumman G-44A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44a) (registry code 3951508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1411 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 3381.6 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480 B1D 270 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming GO-480 B1D 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2023, 11.7 hours before - Departed: KLAM, Los Alamos, NM - Destination: KMEV, Minden, NM - Airport: KLAM, Los Alamos Airport, runway 09, 6,000 × 120 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 29,296 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 22,428 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 17,600 total, 8 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 136 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KLAM, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KLAM 052115Z AUTO VRB04KT 8SM CLR 05/M17 A3002 ## 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 20230405012079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230405012079A), Apr 5, 2023: Grumman G-44A, Los Alamos, NM, Substantial damage. On April 5, 2023, at approximately 1530 MDT, a Grumman G-44A, a fixed-wing multiengine amphibious aircraft, [privacy data omitted]was involved in an accident… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107035. 8.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15533607&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA152_CArmstrong_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/cfi aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15533283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA152_6120_BVanWagnen_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15533295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA152%20photos_508-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone, pilot/instructor (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15611787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20VanWagnen_Redacted-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.