Grumman Aircraft Eng CORP G-111 accident near Ft Pierce, Florida, November 5, 2009
On November 5, 2009 at about 8:34 pm local time, a Grumman Aircraft Eng CORP G-111, registered N120FB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ft Pierce, Florida (St. Lucie County International airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of left engine power and subsequent failure of the airplane to maintain airspeed and altitude on the remaining engine for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2009 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Ft Pierce, Florida · St. Lucie County International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Aircraft Eng CORP G-111 · all G-111s on the register
- Registration
- N120FB · no longer on the register · serial 7243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the landing gear retraction he heard a loud bang, followed by three to four smaller bangs. The first officer confirmed that the left engine was the affected engine and immediately began feathering the propeller. Once the propeller had been feathered, the captain confirmed the action by looking outside and noticing the propeller in the feathered position. The captain further reported that the right engine was producing the maximum power available and was indicating 55 inches of manifold pressure. Unable to achieve airspeed of greater than 95 to 96 knots indicated, the captain attempted to return to the airport for an emergency landing; however, he was unable to maintain altitude and attempted to land on an airport perimeter road, impacting the airport fence and a sand berm in the process. A cursory examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Unknown or undetermined during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,095 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 7,480 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 7, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,747 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 12, 2009; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 30,605 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Curtiss Wright R1820-982C9HE (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Curtiss Wright R1820-982C9HE (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Albatross Adventures INC Trustee
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Ft Pierce FL at 8:34 pm
- Destination: OBE Okeechobee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,755 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FPR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA10LA050.