Grumman G21A accident near Hobart Bay, Alaska, June 1, 1986
On June 1, 1986 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Grumman G21A, registered N37487, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobart Bay, Alaska (Entrance Island Spb airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 5 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
- June 1, 1986 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hobart Bay, Alaska · Entrance Island Spb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G21A · all G21As on the register
- Registration
- N37487 · no longer on the register · serial B-52
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT NEGLECTED TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT. WHILE LANDING ONTO WATER WITH THE GEAR STILL DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE BROKE OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INVERTED AND THEN SANK.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,255 hours in all; 1,810 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 8,011 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Channel Flying INC
The flight
- Departed from: JUN Juneau AK at 4:05 pm
- Destination: 2Z1 Hobart Bay AK
- Runway 0, 5,000 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.