What happened
On December 24, 1961, at approximately 10:50 a.s.t., a Grumman G-21A operated by Kodiak Airways, Inc., registration N1503V, was attempting to perform a water takeoff from Old Harbor on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The flight was proceeding in a southwesterly direction under favorable weather conditions, characterized by unrestricted visibility and calm sea states.
While the initial stages of the takeoff appeared routine, the aircraft experienced a sudden descent immediately after lifting off the surface. Following this impact with the water, the plane climbed at a steep angle before abruptly pitching downward. The force of the impact caused the nose and tail sections of the aircraft to separate. The wreckage subsequently sank in approximately 75 feet of water, leaving the airframe completely destroyed.
During the accident, one passenger located in the cockpit was ejected into the sea and succumbed to drowning. The pilot and three other passengers, who managed to exit through the main cabin door, were successfully rescued shortly after the event. The total number of fatalities was 1, while the remaining 3 passengers and the crew survived.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was caused by an improperly executed takeoff procedure. This error led to an unintended descent into the water, triggering a high-speed, low-angle porpoising motion that the pilot could not recover from.