# NTSB LAX87LA137: Cessna 172C, N6353F, Kahului, HI, March 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1987, 17:05 local (Mar 8, 1987, 03:05 UTC)
- Place: Kahului, HI
- Coordinates: 20.870103, -156.449142 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8701&lon=-156.4491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA137

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)
  - engine assembly,camshaft - worn (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE MANUEVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT HAD PLANNED A LOCAL FLIGHT FROM HONOLULU TO MAUI AND RETURN. ONCE OVER THE ISLAND OF MAUI, THE PLT NOTIFIED THE FSS THAT HE WAS CHANGING HIS ROUTE AND WOULD BE PASSING THROUGH THE ISLAND'S CENTRAL VALLEY FROM N TO S. AFTER TALKING TO THE FSS HE DECIDED TO OVERFLY A 10,000 FT MOUNTAIN TO SHORTEN HIS ROUTE. AS HE APPROACHED THE MOUNTAIN HE REALIZED THE TERRAIN WAS RISING FASTER THAN THE ACFT'S CLIMB. THE PLT TURNED LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN AND THE ACFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK A TREE AT THE 4,500 FT LEVEL. THE ACFT AIRSPEED WAS APRX 55 KTS WHILE IN A 15 TO 20 BANK. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN THE TREES. THE ACFT SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED AND THE FOLLOWING DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED; THE NO. 3 LEAD ON THE LEFT HAND MAGNETO WAS CUT, THE CAMSHAFT LOBES WERE EXTREMELY WORN, AND ALL LIFTER FACES EXTREMELY PITTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6353F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6353F-1996-04-17), registration cancelled 1996-04-17, S/N 17273198 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273198
- Airframe hours: 2666
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eveland Aero
- Registered owner: Eveland, Chacy R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 1987, 33 hours before
- Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,394 total, 2 in this make and model, 2,337 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OGG, 13 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 19870307061879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870307061879A), Mar 7, 1987: Cessna 172N, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. The aircraft hit trees and rising terrain. Pilot had little time in aircraft. Camshaft found to be excessively worn

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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