19990522023949A

(.19) On may 22, 1999, at 1930 hours hawaiian standard time, a Beech B90, N301DK, crashed into the pacific ocean under unknown circumstances, near dilligham airfield airport, Mokuleia, Hawaii. The aircraft, operated by pacific international skydiving center under 14 CFR part 91, was destroyed in the impact sequence and sank in 140 feet of water. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, is missing and is presumed to have received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the positioning flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from the dilligham airport the day of the accident about 1915. The purpose of the flight was to drop skydivers and then return to the airport. Witnesses stated that following the release of the skydivers, the aircraft made a descending turn towards the shoreline. Once perpendicular with the shoreline, the aircraft was still in a descent. One witness stated that the pilot appeared to "drive the aircraft into the ocean." An underwater search is ongoing for the wreckage. (.4)following the 12th sport parachute jump of the day, which occurred after sunset, ground witnesses observed the airplane descend into the ocean in a left wing low, nose down attitude. They did not hear the engines sputtering or popping, or see the airplane make any erratic movements during its descent. Skydivers indicated that the two previous flights had been conducted at altitudes of at least 18,000 feet, and the accident flight and subsequent jump were made at 20,000 feet. During this final jump flight, one of the skydivers stated he had a hard time breathing and felt nauseous. The skydivers also noted that the pilot was unable to maintain a steady course and did not respond well to minor course corrections. No supplemental oxygen was found onboard the airplane during the recovery or subsequent inspection phases of the investigation. No skydiver observed the pilot using supplemental oxygen. The airplane manufacturer noted that the pressurization system would have been rendered inoperable due to a non-sealed cockpit door. Hypoxia is defined as a physiological condition where a person is bereft of needed oxygen. Judgment is poor and reaction time delayed. Total incapaci tation coupled with a loss of consciousness can occur with little or no warning. The airframe, engines, and propellers were examined with no preexisting impact anomalies found. (-23)after the pilot dropped off a load of 13 jumpers, the aircraft (N301DK)began its descent for the Dillingham airfield located on the north shore of oahu. One witness who was outside in his backyard described what he called an aerobatic maneuver. It may have been a very steep spiraling descent. All the witnesses saw or heard the aircraft fly over the shoreline in a west to east direction. Approximately 5 or 6 miles east of the airport N301DK began a sweeping left turn back to the airfield. Heading back to the airfield in a east to west direction, the aircraft was still in a steep (10 to 20 degrees) descent. The aircraft began a left turn toward the shoreline. The aircraft struck the water in a nose low, left wing down attitude. Witnesses say that it looked like the pilot may have tried to level out at the very last second but was too late. The aircraft was not equipped with oxygen for the pilot or the passengers (parachuters). Two of the jumpers af ter being interviewed confirmed that they had been at 20,000 feet when theyjumped. One of the jumpers admitted to having a hard time breathing and did not feel good while at 20,000 feet. One of the jumpers estimated that they were above 15,000 feet for over 10 minutes and had to make a couple passes at 20,000 feet. Another pilot who was operating a pitts special in the aerobatics box just offshore in front of the Dillingham airfield gave his position to the pilot of the skydiving aircraft (N301DK) as he saw him descending. The pilot of the pitts said that the pilot of 301DK gave a short unintelligible answer. The pilot of the pitts estimated N301DK to be 4000-5000 feet when he made his position report.