Grumman G-73T accident near Key West, Florida, March 18, 1994
On March 18, 1994 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Grumman G-73T, registered N150FB, was destroyed in an accident near Key West, Florida. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE THE BILGES WERE ADEQUATELY PUMPED FREE OF WATER (ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHTED), WHICH RESULTED IN THE AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT TO BE EXCEEDED, AND FAILURE OF THE AIRCREW TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE WATER LEAK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1994 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-73T · all G-73Ts on the register
- Registration
- N150FB · no longer on the register · serial J-51
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHTCREW HAD COMPLETED A 14 CFR PART 135 CHARTER FLIGHT AND HAD LANDED IN THE HARBOR AT KEY WEST, FLORIDA. THEY HAD MOORED THE SEAPLANE AND DEPARTED. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THEY REBOARDED THE SEAPLANE TO FLY IT TO AN AIRPORT FOR REFUELING, THEN TO RETURN TO THE HARBOR TO BOARD THE PASSENGERS. DURING TAKEOFF, THE SEAPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH NOSE UP, ROLL LEFT, AND CRASH NOSE DOWN IN THE HARBOR. DUE TO THE DAMAGE DONE BY TIDAL FLOW AND RECOVERY ATTEMPTS, THE EXACT CONDITION OF THE AFT BILGE DRAIN PLUGS WAS UNKNOWN. DURING A CHECK OF THE CVR RECORDING, THE CREW WAS NOT HEARD TO CALL OUT THE BILGE PUMPS DURING THE BEFORE-TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. AFTER LIFT-OFF, BOTH PILOTS MADE COMMENTS ABOUT KEEPING THE NOSE DOWN DUE TO WATER IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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 engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,725 hours in all; 3,100 in this make and model; 7,125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,119 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 2, 1993; 201 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,000 lb
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chalks Int'L Airlines
The flight
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from EYW, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.