Grumman G21 accident near Togiak, Alaska, May 18, 1989
On May 18, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Grumman G21, registered N4763C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Togiak, Alaska (Togiak airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Togiak, Alaska · Togiak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G21 · all G21s on the register
- Registration
- N4763C · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIR TAXI PILOT WAS ON AN UNSCHEDULED CHARTER FLIGHT IN AN AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE TO PICK UP PASSENGERS NEAR HAGEMEISTER ISLAND. HE ELECTED NOT TO LAND AT HAGERMEISTER ISLAND DUE TO WATER CONDITIONS, BUT FLEW INSTEAD TO A NEARBY AIRSTRIP FOR A WHEEL LANDING. HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING TO LIFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED.
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: 14,000 hours in all; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,920 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLG Dillingham AK at 3:20 pm
- Destination: Hagemeister AK
- Runway 36, 4,400 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 N4763C 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.