Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Seldovia

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1963 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9929H
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1369
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1308
Captain / Total hours on type:
24.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Seldovia Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran, hit obstacles and went down an embankment before coming to rest. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged the distance and speed and inadequate supervision of flight on part of the check pilot. A downwind landing was a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon near Pelican: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1954 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N67794
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sitka – Pelican – Hoonah – Juneau
MSN:
1321
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
ACA060
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2763
Circumstances:
Flight 60 originated at Sitka, Alaska, with stops scheduled at Pelican City, Hoonah, and Juneau, the destination. Before departure from Sitka, the dispatcher in Juneau issued clearance for the flight to proceed DVFR (Defense Visual Flight Rules) to Hoonah and wait, if necessary, at that station for weather to improve in the Juneau area. The flight plan indicated estimated time from Sitka to Juneau, including stops, would be two hours and fifty minutes. Fuel consumption was estimated at 60 gallons, with 20 gallons re-serve upon arrival at Juneau. Gross weight of all disposable load at takeoff was 1,401 pounds, 30 less than the maximum allowable. The flight departed Sitka at 1153 with Captain James C. Rinehart (pilot), four passengers, cargo, mail, and baggage. The route between Sitka and Pelican City follows the North Pacific shore. The flight landed at Pelican City at 1235. Two passengers deplaned and 88 pounds of baggage, mail, and cargo were taken off; 159 pounds of cargo were added. The aircraft was not refueled. The pilot reported by radio that the flight departed Pelican City at 1305 en route to Hoonah. This was the last radio contact. When the flight became overdue at Hoonah, search operations were instituted. The Coast Guard was notified at 1655 and began search. At approximately 0800 the following morning, the pilot of a private aircraft located the wreckage in a mountain pass several miles southeast of Pelican City. A Coast Guard and civilian ground rescue party arrived the afternoon of November 5, rendered first aid to the two passengers, and stayed until the survivors and the body of the pilot were evacuated by helicopter on November 6.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was loss of control of the aircraft during a steep turn in severe turbulence while the pilot was attempting to conduct visual flight at less than the required altitude and weather minimums. The following findings were reported:
- Weather conditions within the pass were: Rain, fog, severe turbulence, and low ceiling, with the base of the clouds extending about halfway down the 3,000-foot mountain slopes,
- Flight 60 crashed one-fourth mile due south of the summit of the pass about 1.500 feet above mean sea level, the pilot having negotiated about three miles of its 10-mile length,
- The aircraft struck the ground on a west heading at a sharp bend in the narrow pass, having encountered strong turbulence in a steep left bank at low altitude,
- The pilot had reversed course when the accident occurred,
- The two passengers survived but the pilot was fatally injured,
- Alaska Coastal Airlines flights in this type aircraft are restricted to Defense Visual Flight Rules operations,
- The Alaska Coastal Airlines operations manual specified that the pass must be flown at 3,000 feet altitude,
- The pilot was attempting to negotiate the pass at less than the altitude specified in the operations manual and in weather conditions which were lower than DVFR requirements.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon in Bauru: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1954 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2668
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bauru - Bauru
MSN:
1272
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew left Bauru Airport at 1100LT for local training purposes. After completing several maneuvers, the crew started a new approach when the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around. The aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. Both pilots were seriously injured but one of them died from his injuries few hours later.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon into the Guanabara Bay

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1952 at 0825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2673
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1283
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight when an engine failed. The pilot-in-command attempted to ditch the airplane into the Guanabara Bay. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Fåberg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-HAW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1278
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The seaplane was on its way to Oslo, maybe on a night ambulance flight. In circumstances that remains unclear, it crashed in flames near Fåberg, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon near Malibu

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N58514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Site:
MSN:
1396
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Las Flores Canyon near Malibu. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon off Belém

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1949 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2674
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém - Belém
MSN:
1284
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the NAS side of Belém-Val de Cans Airport, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the Guajará Bay. All five crew members were rescued, two of them were injured. The seaplane was lost.

Crash of a Grumman G-44A Widgeon in the Lake Tiberias: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1948 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-73
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1426
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances while trying to land in Lake Tiberias. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oliver Holton, instructor,
Ralph Moster, pilot.
Passenger:
Alvin Levin.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon in Praia de Ponte Negra: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1948 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2667
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1271
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport at 1000LT. About half an hour later, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Praia de Ponte Negra, about 150 km southwest of its departure point. Both pilots were killed.