Partenavia P-68 Observer, Affordable Casket Outlet LLC, N947MZ: Accident occurred February 27, 2014 in Molokai, Hawaii

http://registry.faa.gov/N947MZ

NTSB Identification: WPR14CA129
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, February 27, 2014 in Molokai, HI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/18/2014
Aircraft: PARTENAVIA S.P.A. P 68 OBSERVER, registration: N947MZ
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot stated that the flight was conducted at night and he used his GPS track to align with the runway. When the pilot activated the runway lights, the airplane was about 1/4 mile to the left of the runway and 1/2 mile from the approach end. The pilot made an aggressive right turn then hard left turn to make the runway for landing. While maneuvering on short final, at 50 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane's right wing impacted the tops of a number of trees that lined the southeast side of the runway. The airplane descended rapidly and landed hard, collapsing the landing gear and spinning the airplane around 180 degrees laterally, where it came to rest against some trees. The right wing's impact with trees and the hard landing resulted in substantial damage.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate decision to continue an unstable approach in dark night conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and hard landing.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.


AIRCRAFT ON LANDING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, MOLOKAI, HAWAII


Authorities identified the pilot of a small plane that crashed on a private Molo­kai ranch last week as John Wei­ser Jr., whose tour company was fined $50,000 in 2007 by the Federal Aviation Administration for running uncertified air tours.

Weiser had his pilot license revoked in 2009 by the FAA for various violations, FAA spokes­man Ian Gregor said in an email, after he crash-landed on Molo­kai and made a hard landing in Hono­lulu while piloting small planes earlier that year. The FAA found Wei­ser had operated an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another and failed to accomplish a flight review. The agency also found Wei­ser had falsified, reproduced or altered applications, certificates, logbooks, reports or records.

Source:   http://www.staradvertiser.com
MOLOKAI (HawaiiNewsNow) -A small plane crashed on Molokai last week Thursday, February 27, but no one -- including emergency responders -- learned about it until this week.

Police and fire departments did not respond to the scene because the pilot, who asked to remain anonymous, didn't think it was a big deal.  He tells Hawaii News Now that he hit a strong gust of wind, which pushed the twin-engine Partenavia into some trees.

The pilot was then forced to make a hard landing near the remote Panda Airport off Pohakuloa Road.

Fortunately, he walked away unharmed and says the damage is easily fixed.

Story, photo and comments/reaction:  http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com