Grumman G-21A Goose

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

34075

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port Heiden – Kodiak

MSN:

B004

YOM:

1943

Location:

Port Heiden

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The seaplane was performing a flight from Port Heiden to Kodiak on behalf of the USCG with one passenger and three crew members on board. Few minutes after take off from Port Heiden, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located northeast of Port Heiden. As the aircraft did not arrive in Kodiak, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace was found. The wreckage was found by hikers on August 26, 1987, 44 years later.
Crew:
Ens Harold D. Bennett,
Rmc J. W. Cole,
Amm1 C. W. Bull.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-2 Goose near Blyn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V176

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port Angeles – Seattle

MSN:

1065

YOM:

1940

Location:

Blyn

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after departure from Port Angeles, en route to Seattle, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While cruising in instrument conditions, the seaplane impacted the slope of a mountain located south of Blyn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
L/Cdr Frederick L. Westbrook, pilot,
Lt Jg Carl R. Heussy,
Cpt Eerl H. Muyskens,
Rm1 Thurlow E. Kesner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose in the Caquetá River

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-106980

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1156

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane suffered technical problems in flight and crashed in the Caquetá River. There were no fatalities.
Crew:
2nd Lt William S. Briggs, pilot.

Probable cause:

Unknown mechanical failure in flight.

Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose near Deer Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

38-557

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1023

YOM:

1939

Location:

Deer Lake

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in hilly terrain some 20 km northwest of Deer Lake. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Earl Eugene Jordan.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose I off Benghazi

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HK822

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

1212

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing landing tests off Benghazi when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean sea, some 24 km offshore. All seven occupants were rescued the next day in a dinghy while the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/L John Phillip Bartle, pilot,
P/O Charles Farquhar McWilliam, copilot.
Passengers:
F/O Stanley O'Donnell,
Lac Gerald Cheston Allen,
Lac Geoffrey Thomas Richards,
Lac John Douglas Richards,
Ac1 W. J. Milburn.

Crash of a Grumman G-21 Goose II off Port Rexton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1942 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

925

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Dartmouth - Sydney - Torbay

MSN:

1082

YOM:

1940

Location:

Port Rexton

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The seaplane departed Dartmouth on a routine communication flight from Dartmouth to Torbay. The crew made a stopover in Sydney before continuing to Torbay, north of St John, Newfoundland. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the Trinity Bay off Port Rexton. The aircraft was found floating upside down few hundred yards offshore by local fishermen and all five crew members were killed.
Crew (121st Squadron):
F/O William George David Harber, pilot,
Lt Col Arnold Albert Ernst,
Maj Herbert Bruce Munro,
Cdr Francis Robert William Roberts Gow,
F/O Horace Montague Beck Arney.

Probable cause:

The airplane took off one hour late from Dartmouth. After the stop in Sydney, the pilot took off for Torbay, knowing trip could not be completed before nightfall. The pilot was not qualified on Goose at night. Negligence on part of the pilot for leaving Sydney on a flight plan which required him to fly at night for which he was not qualified in such airplane.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Yakutat: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1942 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

917

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yakutat - Anchorage

MSN:

1016

YOM:

1938

Location:

Yakataga

Alaska

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Based in Patricia Bay, the seaplane was engaged in an operational flight between Yakutat and Anchorage. En route, it ran into bad weather. The pilot, on instruments, attempted to pick up shore line but found himself over land. He started a 50° turn toward the sea when he saw trees close below. He stopped the turn, open the throttles and pulled the nose up. At this point, the hull began shearing the tree tops. The airplane descended into trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located near Yakataga. A crew was killed instantly while six others were injured. Few days later, a second crew member died.
Crew:
F/O P. H. Gault, pilot,
S/Sgt R. B. Roberts, wireless operator,
Cpl Thomas Brown Donald, observer. †
Passengers:
S/Sgt F. M. Baily,
Aci T. S. Silberman,
Aci John McIntosh, †
Aci W. E. Maylor.

Probable cause:

This accident is due to bad weather between the point of departure and arrival, and error on the part of the pilot in that he did not turn back when bad weather was encountered and he was not sure of his position. Pilot lacked confidence in his ability to navigate by instruments and radio beam. This did not allow him to fly at sufficient height to clear terrain along his route.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman JRF-3 on Block Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V190

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Brooklyn - Brooklyn

MSN:

1085

YOM:

1940

Location:

Block Island

Rhode Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The seaplane departed Brooklyn Air Station on a local test flight and was diverted to confirm a reported sighting of a submarine southeast of Nantucket. After departure, weather conditions deteriorated and darkness set in. The rain and gathering darkness limited visibility and the aircraft consequently impacted the cliffs on Block Island, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Lt Robert J. Lafferty,
AMM1 S. J. Tarapchak,
RM1 W. A. Boutillier.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Kupang: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PK-AFS

Flight Phase: