Grumman G-44A N444M

Summary

On 5 April 2023 at about 21:00 local time, a Grumman G-44A registered N444M was involved in an accident near Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 April 2023 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Los Alamos Airport (KLAM)

Coordinates

35.8800, -106.2700

Aircraft

Grumman G-44A

Registration

N444M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1945

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Alamos → Minden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA152

Nobody was injured.

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion and ground collision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Both pilots reported that during the takeoff roll, the pilot receiving instruction lost directional control of the airplane and it veered off the runway. The airplane subsequently collided with a parked unoccupied airplane. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damaged. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was not equipped with brakes at the right seat position. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.