Grumman G-21 accident near Togiak River, Alaska, August 14, 1993
On August 14, 1993, a Grumman G-21, registered N1530H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Togiak River, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT DECISION MAKING AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1993
- Place
- Togiak River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-21 · all G-21s on the register
- Registration
- N1530H · no longer on the register · serial B-140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT IN COMMAND OF AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE MISJUDGED THE LENGTH OF TAKEOFF RUN NEEDED TO GET AIRBORNE OFF AN AREA OF A REMOTE FISHING RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT AT THE TURN OF THE RIVER. SUFFICIENT SEALANE WAS AVAILABLE IF THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN TAXIED UP STREAM.
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, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,391 hours in all; 3,043 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 18,775 as pilot in command; 2,023 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,204 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 9, 1930; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,920 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DLG Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from DLG, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.