Grumman G-21A accident near N Cape Yakataga, Alaska, February 20, 1982
On February 20, 1982 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Grumman G-21A, registered N2845D, was substantially damaged in an accident near N Cape Yakataga, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1982 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- N Cape Yakataga, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-21A · all G-21As on the register
- Registration
- N2845D · no longer on the register · serial B-112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MERRILL FIELD AT 1110 WITH 220 GALLONS OF FUEL.TWO HOURS LATER BOTH ENGINES QUIT WHILE FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 6500 FEET APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OFFSHORE.THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED INTO 12 TO 15 FOOT WAVES WITH A 40 KNOT SURFACE WIND.THE RIGHT FLOAT WAS TORN OFF AND BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE. THE AIRCRAFT SANK AT 1745 AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.THE AIRCRAFT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.THE FUELING FACILITIES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND FREE OF WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,628 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,941 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,920 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 11:10 am
- Destination: YAK Yakutat AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 40 knots
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.