Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A accident near Kaupo, HI

On December 15, 2022, a Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kaupo, HI. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

December 15, 2022

Place

Kaupo, HI

Aircraft

Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A · Airplane

Injuries

3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

20.558°N, 156.071°W

NTSB ID

20221216106468

Official records · ANC23FA008

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

Air traffic control records

• ATC Audio- Clearance Delivery: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Audio- Ground Control: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Audio- Local Control (2): Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• Excerpt From ATC Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control- Local Control (1): Document (WAV), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 15, 2022, about 2114 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company (formerly Beech) C90A, twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane, N13GZ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Kaupo, Hawaii. The airline transport pilot, flight paramedic, and flight nurse were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 air ambulance positioning flight. The flight, operated by Guardian Flight LLC, dba Hawaii Life Flight, departed the Kahului Airport (OGG) on the Island of Maui, Hawaii, about 2053, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The accident airplane was destined for the Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE), a 21-minute flight, on the Island of Hawaii to pick up a patient to be transported to Honolulu, Hawaii. A review of the Appareo Vision 1000 recorded images and audio data, archived voice communication information, and ADS-B data revealed that the pilot engaged the autopilot shortly after takeoff at about 160 ft msl. He retracted the landing gear about 700 ft above ground level and reduced propeller pitch. After departure from OGG about 2055, the pilot contacted the departure ATC specialist on duty, indicating the flight was at 1,000 ft msl climbing to 11,000 ft msl. After the airplane departed OGG, it initially proceeded north, then it turned eastbound, which is consistent with the Onohi Two standard instrument departure procedure. As the airplane climbed through 1,400 ft msl, the pilot passed money to a medical flight crewmember seated in the cabin. About 2056, the pilot opened a mus

Probable cause

Guardian Flight’s inadequate pilot training and performance tracking, which failed to identify and correct the pilot’s consistent lack of skill, and which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain his position inflight using secondary instruments to navigate when the airplane’s electronic attitude direction indicator failed, leading to his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control.

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 · Raytheon 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.