# NTSB ANC23LA012: Cessna 208B, N236KA, Kualapuu, HI, January 16, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 16, 2023, 05:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Kualapuu, HI · 1.5 mile from approach end of runway 5 - Coordinates: 21.139551, -157.13452 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.1396&lon=-157.1345&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106589/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106589 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate altitude during a circling approach procedure in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was conducting an instrument approach in dark night conditions, and during the approach he thought the airplane was too high. The pilot performed a left turn circling procedure to lose altitude. During the turn, the pilot loss sight of the runway and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N236KA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N236KA), registered now, S/N 208B2034, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114a) (registry code 52257, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B2034 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 11160.5 - Engines: PWC PT6-114A 675 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Kamaka Air LLC - Registered owner: Kamaka Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 12, 2023 - Departed: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Destination: PHMK, Hoolehua, HI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MKK, Molokai Airport, runway 050, 3,118 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,040.3 total, 1,626.6 in this make and model, 1,958.8 as pilot in command, 152.4 in the last 90 days, 8.5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: PHMK, 2 nm away - METAR: PHMK 162354Z 31005KT 10SM FEW050 26/20 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02610200 10272 20200 58029 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230116002999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230116002999A), Jan 16, 2023: Cessna 208B, Ho'Olehua, HI, Substantial damage. During a 135 air cargo single pilot instrument flight, pilot in command, initiated molokai VOR a approach into Kaunakakai Airport (phmk) at 503AM HST… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106589. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15195738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA012%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15588190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.