Grumman G-21A accident near Unalaska, Alaska, April 10, 2008
On April 10, 2008, a Grumman G-21A, registered N741, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Unalaska, Alaska (Unalaska Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 8 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a truck while landing, and the vehicle operator's decision to ignore runway warning signals. Contributing to the accident was an inoperative vehicle gate system and the failure of airport management to adequately maintain the gate system and issue a NOTAM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2008 · cases in 2008
- Place
- Unalaska, Alaska · Unalaska Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 8 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-21A · all G-21As on the register
- Registration
- N741 · registry record · serial B-97
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was on an approach to land on Runway 30 at the conclusion of a visual flight rules (VFR)scheduled commuter flight. Through a series of radio microphone clicks, he activated threshold warning lights for vehicle traffic on a roadway that passes in front of the threshold of Runway 30. Gates that were supposed to work in concert with the lights and block the runway from vehicle traffic were not operative. On final approach, the pilot, who was aware that the gates were not working, noticed a large truck and trailer stopped adjacent to the landing threshold. As he neared the runway, he realized that the truck was moving in front of the threshold area. The pilot attempted to go around, but the airplane's belly struck the top of the trailer and the airplane descended out of control to the runway, sustaining structural damage. The truck driver reported that, as he approached the runway threshold, he saw the flashing red warning lights, but that the gates were not closed. He waited for about 45 seconds and looked for any landing traffic and, seeing none, drove onto the road in front of the threshold. As he did so, he felt the airplane impact the trailer, and saw it hit the runway. The accident truck's trailer is about 45 feet long and 13 feet tall. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement recommends that pilots maintain a 25-foot minimum threshold crossing height. The NTSB's investigation revealed that the gate system had been out of service for more than a year due to budgetary constraints, and that there was no Notice to Airman (NOTAM) issued concerning the inoperative gate system. The FAA certificated airport is owned and operated by the State of Alaska. According to the Airport Certification Manual, the airport manager is responsible to inspect, maintain, and repair airport facilities to ensure safe operations. Additionally, the airport manager is responsible for publishing NOTAM's concerning hazardous conditions. A 10-year review of annual FAA certification and compliance inspection forms revealed no discrepancy listed for the inoperative gates until 16 days after the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Other/unknown
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Airport personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wall/barricade › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,040 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 455 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,228 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 25, 2008; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Peninsula Airways, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KQA Akutan AK at 7:15 pm
- Destination: DUT Unalaska AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:16 pm from PADU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 7 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on June 1, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N741 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N741 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman G-21 35 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman 443 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 1,593 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Unalaska Airport · nearest airport
- Akutan Seaplane Base · departed from
- Unalaska Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N741 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC08FA050.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.