- Date
- January 25, 2015, 18:11 local (Jan 26, 2015, 04:11 UTC)
- Place
- Makaha, HI
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N422BPCessna 172N
- Defining event
- Enroute-change of cruise level: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 21, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Avaiton Administration
- FAA report
- 20150125001859A
- Case key
- 90655
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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was ditched and not recovered.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that about 40 minutes into the over water flight between islands, he requested a descent to 3,400 feet, which was approved by air traffic control. The pilot reduced the engine power to 2,000 rpm; however, the engine rpm dropped to 1,500. Actions by the pilot to restore engine power were unsuccessful. Following a successful water landing, the occupants exited the airplane and were rescued by the United States Coast Guard about 30 minutes later. The airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that about 40 minutes into the over water flight between islands, he requested a descent to 3,400 feet, which was approved by air traffic control. The pilot reduced the engine power to 2,000 rpm; however, the engine rpm dropped to 1,500. Actions by the pilot to restore engine power were unsuccessful. Following a successful water landing, the occupants exited the airplane and were rescued by the United States Coast Guard about 30 minutes later. The airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N422BP
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268917
- Built
- 1977
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Reggie Perry, doing business as Barbers Point Flight School LLC
- Registered owner
- Reggie Perry
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PAK · Hanapepe, HI
- Destination
- JRF · Kapolei, HI
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- JRF · Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field)
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
- 37
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 15, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 75 total · 72 in this make and model · 32 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- PHJR, 16 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.