- Date
- January 14, 1992, 10:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Honolulu, HI
- Injuries
- 5 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N787AMCessna 310Q
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920114022799A
- Case key
- 27537
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's continuation of VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions and the pilot's failure to obtain an adequate weather briefing before flight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flt departed Honolulu with radar flight following to the the limit of the tca; the last radio communication was at about 0850 hrs. For the next aprx one hour, recorded radar data shows the airplane n and e of molokai and maui at altitudes varying from 100 ft to 13,600 ft before disappearing from radar. The last position was about 45 mi n of maui in the pacific ocean. Pilots flying in the general vicinity of lanai, molokai and maui islands reported encountering lowering ceilings & visibilities as they progressed e from Honolulu, with IFR conditions in the area of lanai. Weather forecasts for locations w and e of the accident area were for marginal VFR conditions. The 0945 weather at molokai was 300 ft scattered, 1,000 ft overcast, and visibility 1-1/2 mi in rain and fog. A nearly stationary frontal system was located just w of kaui. The airplane was not recovered; damage and injuries are presumed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N787AM
- Reported as
- Cessna 310Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310Q0814
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-VO, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jim Mayes Company, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Jim Mayes Company, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- OGG · Kahului, Maui, HI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 65 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.