# NTSB LAX84FA251: Grumman AA-5A, N26413, Kamuela, HI, April 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1984, 15:10 local (Apr 9, 1984, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Kamuela, HI
- Coordinates: 20.039224, -155.70082 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.0392&lon=-155.7008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23946
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA251
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23946/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA251

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WITH 4 OCCUPANTS ON BOARD WAS BEING USED ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT TO MAUNA LOA VOLCANO. THE PLT WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH HILO TOWER FROM 1503 TO 1506 HST. HE INDICATED CONCERN ABOUT THE CLOUDS & DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED TO THE VOLCANO. WHEN THE ACFT FAILED TO RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT IT WAS HAMPERED BY RAINS. ON 4/12/84, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON THE NORTH SLOPE OF MAUNA KEA VOLCANO. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED (HDG 320)ON DOWNWARD SLOPING TERRAIN WHILE IN A STEEP DESCENT. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT. THE ACFT WAS ACCORDIONED, 10 FT FROM THE BULKHEAD TO THE EMPENNAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OR POWER FAILURE WERE FOUND. THE ACFT CLOCK HAD STOPPED AT 3:10.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N26413 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0574
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 E2 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hawaii Flying Country Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 1984, 74 hours before
- Departed: KOA, KONA, HI
- Destination: ITO, HILO, HI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 113 total, 29 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ITO, 31 nm away

## 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 19840408042099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840408042099A), Apr 8, 1984: Gulstm AA5A, Kamuela, HI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of a cloud obscured mountain. Empty beer cans in wreckage. Alcohol in pilots blood.

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.

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