Grumman HU-16E accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, June 19, 1991
On June 19, 1991 at about 2:10 am local time, a Grumman HU-16E, registered N7029C, was destroyed in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. LOSS OF POWER ON THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1991 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman HU-16E · all HU-16Es on the register
- Registration
- N7029C · registry record · serial 99-7213
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT LOST OIL PRESSURE IN THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE. FLIGHT COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED USING THE REMAINING ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE REMAINING ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THE CREW DESCENDED TO JUST ABOVE THE WATER AND TRIED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT IN GROUND EFFECT, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FLOODED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SINK. THE CREW ESCAPED, BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RETRIEVE EMERGENCY GEAR. THEY WERE RESCUED AFTER ABOUT 20 HOURS IN THE WATER. EVIDENCE REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A PILOT'S CERTIFICATE. NO EVIDENCE COULD BE FOUND TO INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT OR WITH ANY SEA PLANE. SINCE THE AIRCRAFT SANK, A CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 35,400 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Curtis Wright 1820-76-D/C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Flying Fish, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 3:10 pm
- Destination: PHOG Maui HI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 25 knots
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| 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 LAX91LA266.