Grumman G-44A accident near Leesburg, Florida, December 17, 1993
On December 17, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-44A, registered N58DG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leesburg, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE OVER GLASSY WATER DURING LANDING AND INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-44A · all G-44As on the register
- Registration
- N58DG · registry record · serial 1415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED GLASSY WATER AS HE INITIATED HIS LANDING FLARE. HE THEN LOST ALL DEPTH PERCEPTION AND BEFORE HE INITIATE A GO-AROUND THE AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,801 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ORL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.