N139FGrumman G-44 · 1944

On October 7, 2012, about 1645 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious Grumman G-44 airplane, N139F, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the surface of Tikchik Lake, about 50 miles north-northeast of Aleknagik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Freshwater Adventures, Dillingham, Alaska, as a visual flight rules, VFR positioning flight, under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Marginal visual meteorological (MVFR) conditions prevailed in the area of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Dillingham, about 1600.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 10, a local hunting guide who witnessed the accident, along with his client, were waiting for the accident airplane’s arrival for a return trip to Dillingham. He said that when the airplane arrived overhead, it made several passes over the lake and island where they were located. After the third pass overhead, the airplane came into view in front of their location very low over the water. He said the airplane rolled into a left turn, and the left wing float struck the water. The airplane then veered sharply to the left, bounced, and cartwheeled three times. After the accident, the airplane came to rest, partially submerged, with its high-mounted wings level with the surface of the lake. The witnesses were unable to reach the airplane in the icy water, and the airplane subsequently sank about 5 or 10 minutes after the accident. There was no sign of the pilot.

The witness reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of calm wind, low clouds, light rain, and fog restricting visibility over the lake. He added that the water was glassy at the time of the accident.

On October 9, the wreckage was located on the bottom of the lake in about 40 feet of water.

The solo pilot received fatal injuries.

The airplane sank to the bottom of a lake, and has not been recovered.

The pilot age 71, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and sea, and airplane multi-engine land and sea. He was issued a first class airman medical certificate without limitations on April 23, 2012.

No personal flight records were discovered for the pilot, and the aeronautical experience listed on page 3 of this report was obtained from a review of the airman’s FAA records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center in Oklahoma City. On the pilot’s last application for medical certificate, dated April 23, 2012, he indicated that his total aeronautical experience consisted of about 30,000 hours, of which he listed 0 hours were accrued in the previous 6 months.

The airplane was a Grumman G44, N139F, manufactured in 1944, and equipped with two Continental Motors IO-470 series engines.

No airframe or engine logbooks were discovered for examination, and the airplane was not recovered for further examination.

According to a witness, calm wind, low clouds, light rain, and fog restricted visibility over the lake. He added that the water was glassy at the time of the accident.

The closest official weather observation station was at the departure airport, Dillingham, AK (PADL), about 68 miles south of the accident site. At 1553, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind 070 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility 15 statute miles; sky condition, scattered at 1,300 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet; temperature 58 degrees F; dew point, 58 degrees F; altimeter 30.09 inHg.

After departing Dillingham, no communications were heard from the accident airplane, and no air traffic control services were requested.

The airplane impacted the surface of a remote lake and subsequently sank. A witness reported seeing the airplane cartwheel across the surface of the lake, after the left wing float touched the surface during a low pass over glassy water. Scuba divers located the wreckage in water about 40 feet deep, and recovered the deceased pilot. The wreckage has not been recovered for examination.

A postmortem examination of the pilot was done under the authority of the Alaska State Medical Examiner, Anchorage, Alaska, on September 4, 2012. The examination revealed that the cause of death was attributed to drowning.

A toxicological examination by the FAA’s Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) on December 12, 2012, was negative for any alcohol or drugs.

On August 21, about 0910 Alaska daylight time, a Grumman G-44 amphibious airplane, N139F, sustained substantial damage during a runway excursion and collision with terrain, while landing at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Fresh Water Adventures, Dillingham, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot, and the three passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight departed Nerka Lake, Alaska, bound for Dillingham, about 0850.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 21, the Dillingham airport manager said when the airplane touched down it immediately veered off the runway to the left, and collided with terrain. He said the pilot told him the left brake locked up, and he lost directional control. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and the left aileron.

In a written statement dated August 22, the pilot reported that he was unaware that the left wheel brake system had picked up a rock while departing from a beach at Nerka Lake, which resulted in the left brake locking up on landing.

In a written statement dated August 28, an FAA air safety inspector, who had examined the airplane at the accident site, confirmed that a small rock was found lodged in the left brake assembly.