20040131016479A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 414A · Laupahoehoe, HI · January 31, 2004

Date: January 31, 2004 · 01:40 local
Place: Laupahoehoe, HI
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: H48A
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5637C
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04FA113
Reported as: Cessna 414A
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total3,000 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N5637CRegistration cancelled Jul 12, 2017 · Cessna 414AS/N 414A0118 · Built 1978 Airframe modelCessna 414A Engine modelContinental TSIO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot departed honolulu VFR on a repositioning flight to hilo, HI for an air ambulance flight. Forecast weather was marginal VFR. Flight departed honolulu at 12:40 am. Aircraft flew over the land mass of the west side of the "big island" which was unusual for this operator. From radar-aircraft circled at about 5,000 feet over kohala mountain. Mode "c" was lost shortly thereafter. Radar service was terminated, and aircraft was told to change frequency to advisory. Primary target continued eastbound, then primaries were lost. Witness living in umauma village reported seeing the aircraft at about 500 feet AGL, with engines working, heading eastbound. Witness noticed that aircraft was no longer heard when out of sight. Weather reports indicate IFR conditions in hilo, 21 miles east of the accident site. Witness reported light rain.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED HONOLULU VFR ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT TO HILO, HI FOR AN AIR AMBULANCE FLIGHT. FORECAST WEATHER WAS MARGINAL VFR. FLIGHT DEPARTED HONOLULU AT 12:40 AM. AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER THE LAND MASS OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE "BIG ISLAND" WHICH WAS UNUSUAL FOR THIS OPERATOR. FROM RADAR-AIRCRAFT CIRCLED AT ABOUT 5,000 FEET OVER KOHALA MOUNTAIN. MODE "C" WAS LOST SHORTLY THEREAFTER. RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED, AND AIRCRAFT WAS TOLD TO CHANGE FREQUENCY TO ADVISORY. PRIMARY TARGET CONTINUED EASTBOUND, THEN PRIMARIES WERE LOST. WITNESS LIVING IN UMAUMA VILLAGE REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL, WITH ENGINES WORKING, HEADING EASTBOUND. WITNESS NOTICED THAT AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER HEARD WHEN OUT OF SIGHT. WEATHER REPORTS INDICATE IFR CONDITIONS IN HILO, 21 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESS REPORTED LIGHT RAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04FA113Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportLaupahoehoe, HIthe pilot's disregard for an in-flight weather advisory, his likely encounter with marginal VFR or IMC weather conditions, his decision to continue flight into those conditions, and failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude resulting in an…Jan 31, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N5637C · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19810416069939INormal Cruise · Montgomery, ALZa zg zh right engine fire in cruise put out fire, diverted, landed ok. Found #3 piston failed #2 #5 rod caps looseApr 16, 1981 · Minor damage