Grumman G-21 accident near Northway, Alaska, June 17, 2002
On June 17, 2002 at about 8:04 pm local time, a Grumman G-21, registered N21A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska (Northway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2002 · about 8:04 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · Northway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-21 · all G-21s on the register
- Registration
- N21A · registry record · serial B129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated private pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 22, he encountered a strong right crosswind. After touchdown, during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane veered to the left. The airplane ultimately departed the left side of the runway, rolled down an embankment, and came to rest in an area that contained trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,284 hours in all; 377 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 1,176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2002; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYXY Whitehorse at 4:01 pm
- Destination: ORT Northway AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 3:07 pm from ORT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N21A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.