Kodiak – Old Harbor – Kaguyak – Lazy Bay – Moser Bay – Olga Bay – Kodiak

On December 24, 1961 at 10:50 AM, Kodiak – Old Harbor – Kaguyak – Lazy Bay – Moser Bay – Olga Bay – Kodiak experienced a crash involving Grumman G-21A Goose, operated by Kodiak Airways, with the event recorded near Old Harbor (Kodiak Island) Alaska.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 20.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On December 24, 1961, N1503V, a Kodiak Airways, Inc., Grumman G-21A, a twin engine six-place amphibian crashed shortly after initial lift-off while making a water takeoff from Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, Alaska. One passenger seated in the cockpit was thrown into the water and drowned. The pilot, who was also thrown from the aircraft, and the remaining three cabin passengers, who exited through the main cabin door, were rescued within a few minutes. The aircraft was totally destroyed at impact and sank in 75 feet of water. Ceiling and visibility were unrestricted and the sea was relatively calm. At approximately 1050 a.s.t., the aircraft started its takeoff in a southwesterly direction. The initial takeoff appeared to be normal, but immediately after lift-off the aircraft was observed to descend, strike the water, and climb steeply. The aircraft then pitched down abruptly and crashed, with the nose and tail breaking off at impact.

Aircraft reference details include registration N1503V, MSN 1020, year of manufacture 1938.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 57.2028°, -153.3057°.