Grumman G-44 accident near Metaline Falls, Washington, September 7, 1991
On September 7, 1991 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-44, registered N63350, was substantially damaged in an accident near Metaline Falls, Washington (Sullivan Lake State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ABSENCE OF THE PARKING BRAKE ON THE LANDING CHECKLIST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1991 · about 9:45 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Metaline Falls, Washington · Sullivan Lake State · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-44 · all G-44s on the register
- Registration
- N63350 · registry record · serial 1387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN LANDED ON THE LAKE AND MOORED CLOSE TO SHORE IN SHALLOW WATER. THE PILOT HAD SET THE PARKING BRAKE WITH THE WHEELS EXTENDED TO STABILIZE THE AIRCRAFT AT THE MOORING SITE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPOSITIONED TO A NEARBY AIRSTRIP. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT DISENGAGED PRIOR TO THE TOUCHDOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL DID NOT ADDRESS THE POSSIBILITY OF LANDING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,844 hours in all; 517 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 14,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 09S at 9:40 pm
- Destination: 09S
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N63350 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman G-44 82 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman 443 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B1D 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sullivan Lake State Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,709 since 1982 · 358 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,568 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA91LA244.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.