# NTSB LAX84LA307: De Havilland DHC 6-300, N28SP, Tau, Manu'A, HI, May 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1984, 12:35 local (13:35 UTC)
- Place: Tau, Manu'A, HI
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 20 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA307
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24273/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA307

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - attempted, pilot in command
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, UPON ARRIVAL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ARPT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSOCK INDICATED SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KTS. THIS, PLUS LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN LED THE CREW TO FLY A SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN NORMAL APPROACH AT 85 KNOTS WITH 37.5 DEGS OF FLAPS. DURING THE FLARE WIND SHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED CAUSING A DECREASE IN AIRSPEED AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. POWER WAS ADDED BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28SP-2004-11-24), registration cancelled 2004-11-24, S/N 601 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC 6-300
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 601
- Airframe hours: 10161
- Engines: P&W PT6A-27 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: South Pacific Island Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: PPG, PAGO PAGO, OF
- Airport: TAU, Tau, runway 18, 2,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,400 total, 4,300 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PPG, 72 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 19840512073779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840512073779A), May 12, 1984: Dhav DHC6300, Tau Village, HI, Substantial damage. Hard landing caused minor damage to landing gear and structural damage to nose baggage compartment bulkhead.

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.