# Accident 20040131016479A: Cessna 414A, Laupahoehoe, HI, January 31, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 31, 2004, 01:40 local time
- Place: Laupahoehoe, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: H48A
- Location: 19.9567° N, 155.3306° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.9567&lon=-155.3306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5637C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5637C-2017-07-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 414A (registry code 2075907, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040131016479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## 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 LAX04FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA113), Jan 31, 2004: Cessna 414A (N5637C), Laupahoehoe, HI, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: the 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…

## Other reports on N5637C (1)

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

- [Incident 19810416069939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810416069939I), Apr 16, 1981: Cessna 414 (N5637C), Montgomery, AL, Minor damage. Za zg zh right engine fire in cruise put out fire, diverted, landed ok. Found #3 piston failed #2 #5 rod caps loose

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.

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