# NTSB investigations, HI: Loss of control in flight

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ANC25LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA020.md): Cessna 172M · Kapolei, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2025 · N19867 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to avoid wake turbulence from a heavy airplane departing from a parallel runway, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during initial climb after a touch-and-go landing.
- [NTSB ANC24FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA063.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Kekaha, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 11, 2024 · N144KW · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ANC23FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA008.md): Raytheon C90A · Kaupo, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 15, 2022 · N13GZ · Substantial damage
  > 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…
- [NTSB WPR23LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA043.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 · Kapolei, HI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 11, 2022 · N948WB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot receiving instruction’s rapid reduction in throttle during hover autorotation training which resulted in a loss of control and collision with the ground.
- [NTSB ANC22FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22FA041.md): Bell 407 · Kalea, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 9, 2022 · N402SH · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight separation of the tail boom as a result of abnormal loading and fracture of the upper-left tail boom attachment bolt due to a gap between the upper-left longeron and aft fuselage bulkhead.
- [NTSB ANC22FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22FA018.md): Sikorsky S-61N · Kekaha, HI · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 22, 2022 · N615CK · Destroyed
  > The improper installation of the fore/aft primary servo by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the attaching hardware backing out and which subsequently rendered the helicopter uncontrollable. Contributing to the accident was the company’s quality…
- [NTSB ANC20CA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA034.md): Cessna 172 · Kahului, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 17, 2020 · N738DB · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence while landing behind a heavy jet airplane, which resulted in a loss of roll control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB ANC20LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA028.md): Eurocopter EC130 · Kalapana, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 5, 2020 · N11QK · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control due to the fatigue fracture of a tail rotor fenestron blade due to the geometry of the water drain hole positioning on the rib.
- [NTSB ANC20FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA024.md): Cessna 305 · Mokuleia, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 22, 2020 · N65070 · Substantial damage
  > A separation of the left rudder cable due to inadequate maintenance, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC20CA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA012.md): Cirrus SR22 · Kapolei, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jan 7, 2020 · N779LB · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's loss of airplane control during a short field takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB WPR19FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA123.md): Robinson R44 · Kailua, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 29, 2019 · N808NV · Destroyed
  > The helicopter’s encounter with a strong downdraft or outflow boundary while operating at a higher than recommended airspeed in turbulence which resulted in a low-G condition, excessive main rotor flapping, and an in-flight breakup when the main rotor…
- [NTSB WPR19LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA013.md): Robinson R44 · Kaneohe, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 23, 2018 · N4132H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s sudden incapacitation from an undiagnosed heart condition during flight, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR18LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA010.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Molokai, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 17, 2017 · N820DF · Destroyed
  > A descent and subsequent impact with open ocean waters for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB GAA17CA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA191.md): Cessna 208 · Kalaupapa, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Mar 11, 2017 · N865MA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's attempted aborted landing late in the landing sequence because she saw another airplane on the runway facing her with its propeller turning, which resulted in a hard landing, a subsequent loss of directional control, and ground loop.
- [NTSB WPR16FA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA116.md): Cessna 182 · Hanapepe, HI · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 23, 2016 · N2007X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed following a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic…
- [NTSB GAA15CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA147.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Kailua-Kona, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 29, 2015 · N227FT · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's decision to conduct a high altitude pinnacle landing without adequate power, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the density altitude at the high altitude pinnacle…
- [NTSB WPR14CA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA325.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Honolulu, HI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 2, 2014 · N110JC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent impact with the taxiway and a parked fuel truck.
- [NTSB WPR13LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA062.md): Cessna 172S · Kahului, HI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 2, 2012 · N3554Y · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control while operating over water in dark night conditions with reduced visibility due to rain in the area.
- [NTSB WPR11FA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA225.md): P&M Pegasus Quik 912S · Hanalei, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 17, 2011 · N705PM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued operation of the aircraft with deteriorated wing fabric and his aggressive maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in the right wing fabric’s failure during flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's loading of the aircraft…
- [NTSB WPR11FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA138.md): AirBorne WindSport Edge XT-912-L · Hanapepe, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 15, 2011 · N29EP · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor did not maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the inadvertent application of the choke, which resulted in a momentary interruption of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR10FA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA211.md): AirBorne WindSport Edge XT-912-L · Captain Cook, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 21, 2010 · N34TH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s intentional in-flight maneuvers that exceeded the structural limits of the aircraft, which resulted in structural failure of the wings.
- [NTSB WPR10CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA019.md): Cessna 172S · Honolulu, HI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 17, 2009 · N5329L · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll.
- [NTSB WPR09LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA386.md): Airborne Windsports PTY XT-912-L · Lihue, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 2, 2009 · N44VZ · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane following an in-flight encounter with turbulence during descent.
- [NTSB WPR09FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA089.md): Glaser-Dirks DG-400 · Volcano, HI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 16, 2009 · N777WN · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of pitch control and subsequent exceedance of the glider's airspeed limit for undetermined reasons.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'HI' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '240' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence?state=HI

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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.