Piper PA-32-300 accident near Honolulu, HI

On January 10, 2010, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Honolulu, HI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

January 10, 2010

Place

Honolulu, HI

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

21.326°N, 157.766°W

NTSB ID

20100111X22511

Official records · WPR10FA107

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Honolulu Control Facility Radar Data: Document (EXE), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 10, 2010, about 1345 Hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N8934N, impacted the southeast side of a ridge while approaching the Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. The pilot, who was additionally the owner, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-instrument rated private pilot and one passenger were killed. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact and subsequent on-ground fire. The personal cross-country flight originated from Lanai Airport on the island of Lanai, Hawaii, about 1315, with a planned destination of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area surrounding the accident site, and the pilot was receiving visual flight rules (VFR) flight following; he had not filed a flight plan. A group of hikers were near the accident site and observed the airplane just prior to impact. One hiker reported that in "very cloudy, poor visibility," conditions he heard an airplane crash into a ridge about 50 yards from his location. He recalled that he could "hear the engine all the way," and that the airplane did not make a sound consistent with turning or pulling up. He further stated that visibility was so bad that he was not able to see the airplane. Another hiker reported that the ridge was obscured by clouds and he heard the engine "running the whole time," prior to the airplane crashing. Another hiker stated that she heard an airplane flying low and briefly observed it pass by before it disappeared in the cloud

Probable cause

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude insufficient to ensure adequate terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to issue a safety alert after observing the pilot's navigational deviation toward high terrain.

More accidents in HI

• Beech 65-A90, Jun 22, 2019
• Piper PA-31-350, Sep 26, 1999
• Boeing 747-122, Feb 24, 1989
• Beech E18S, Apr 23, 1992
• Piper PA-31-350, Dec 24, 1987

Browse: Hawaii · Piper aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.