Grumman G-44 accident near Dillingham, Alaska, June 20, 1985
On June 20, 1985 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-44, registered N176MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 20, 1985 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-44 · all G-44s on the register
- Registration
- N176MS · no longer on the register · serial 1324
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMPHIBIOUS ACFT CRASHED AS THE PLT WAS LANDING ON GLASSY WATER AT THE INLET OF NERKA LAKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT SANK & CAME TO REST INVERTED IN CLEAR WATER ON THE BOTTOM OF WOOD RIVER WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED & THE FLAPS EXTENDED. MODERATE RAIN WAS FALLING WHEN THE PLT WAS LANDING.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bergt Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK
- Destination: AK56
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:45 am
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 N176MS 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.