Grumman G-44A accident near Hawthorne, Florida, August 26, 1986
On August 26, 1986 at about 8:43 pm local time, a Grumman G-44A, registered N1629H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hawthorne, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- August 26, 1986 · about 8:43 pm local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-44A · all G-44As on the register
- Registration
- N1629H · no longer on the register · serial 1454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT UPON TOUCHDOWN ON THE LAKE THE ACFT FELT STRANGE. HE ADDED FULL PWR AND TOOK OFF AGAIN BUT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE DOVE. HE REMOVED PWR AND WITH THE CONTROLS FULL BACK, THE ACFT HIT THE WATER WITH NO LATERAL CONTROL. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SILICONE PRESENT IN THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK AND IN BOTH FUEL FILTERS.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,246 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 3,075 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 4,525 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNV Gainesville FL at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GNV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.