# Accident 19990522023949A: Beech B90, Mokuleia, HI, May 22, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 22, 1999, 19:30 local time - Place: Mokuleia, HI - Airport: Dillingham Airfield Airport - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Final Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 21.5691° N, 158.1192° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5691&lon=-158.1192&mi=10 - Aircraft: N301DK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301DK-1999-08-13) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech B90 (registry code 1152912, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b90) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B90 - Reported engine: PWA PT6A28 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA190) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990522023949A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.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. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX99LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA190), May 23, 1999: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's incapacitation due to the effects of hypoxia from repeated flights to altitudes above 18,000 feet msl without supplemental oxygen. ## Other reports on N301DK (6) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19981219043279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981219043279I), Dec 19, 1998: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI, 2 fatal. (-5)Skydiver sustained a broken leg at the hdh airfield. Skydiver: hank bruckner club: pacific international skydiving center. Experience: approx. 30 jumps… - [Incident 19980413018089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980413018089I), Apr 13, 1998: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI, 1 fatal. Main and reserve pilot chutes and bridles entangled during deployment. Chutist killed on ground impact. - [Incident 19970823029599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970823029599I), Aug 23, 1997: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI, 1 fatal. Narrative: AFS-640 text for data entry: a 37 year old male parachutist suffered fatal injuries as a result of a low altitude 180 degree turn and downwind… - [Incident 19960608029399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960608029399I), Jun 8, 1996: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI. Narrative: AFS-640-text for data entry: an experienced male parachutist sustained a compound fracture of one of his legs and other unknown injuries as a result… - [Incident 19960525029329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960525029329I), May 25, 1996: Beech B90 (N301DK), Mokuleia, HI. Narrative: a female 1st jump student sustained a broken ankle during landing. General text: name: gale hawkins. Experience: 1st parachute jump, no uspa… - [Incident 19920716036339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920716036339I), Jul 16, 1992: Beech B90 (N301DK), Davis, CA, 1 fatal. On a beginner student jump the chutist failed to release the canopy brakes. Impacted the ground at 15 to 20 mph. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.