Dean "Dingo" Hutton, private pilot
Alexis Aaron, passenger
Heather Riley and Gerrit Evensen, passengers
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Lycoming Engines; Chandler, Arizona
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Waipi'o, HI
Accident Number: WPR17FA170
Date & Time: 07/28/2017, 1852 HST
Registration: N6142N
Aircraft: BEECH 19A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 4 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 28, 2017, about 1852 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Beech BE-19A airplane, N6142N, collided with terrain near Waipi'o, Hawaii. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which departed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1837.
A review of recorded air traffic control communications indicated that the airplane departed HNL runway 04R. Although the airplane was not in contact with air traffic control after departure from HNL, recorded radar data displayed the airplane's secondary transponder beacon code as it departed and made a left turn to the northwest.
At 1843, radar data showed the airplane at 1,800 ft mean sea level (msl) about 4 miles north of the airport and on a northwesterly heading (see figure 1). For the next 2 minutes, the airplane's altitude varied and descended to 1,500 ft when it turned west. About 1 minute later, the airplane started the first of three 360° turns. The first was a right turn at 1,200 ft. At the completion of the turn, the airplane resumed a westerly heading at 1,100 ft. Shortly thereafter, the airplane began the second 360° turn to the left, maintaining an altitude of 1,100 ft. At the completion of the turn, the airplane resumed a northerly heading and climbed to 1,600 ft.
About 3 minutes after the completion of the second 360° turn, the airplane turned to the west toward a ridgeline. The airplane climbed to 1,800 ft and, about 1 minute later, began the third 360° turn to the left. At the completion of the turn, the airplane climbed to 2,000 ft on a westerly heading as it approached a ridgeline that ran perpendicular to its flight path. About 10 seconds later, the airplane initiated a descending left turn. The last target, at 1852, depicted the airplane at 1,900 ft.
A witness located 1/2-mile east of the accident site reported that he saw the airplane flying "very low." He added that the airplane was making a turn and eventually went out of view. The witness reported that he heard the engine producing power then heard a "boom," followed by silence.
At 1859, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Honolulu Control Facility (HCF) Front Line Manager (FLM) contacted the Coast Guard to report that aircraft in the vicinity of BOOKE intersection, west of O'ahu, were receiving a strong emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal. The Coast Guard reported that they had no active signals and advised that they did not have any further information but asked the HCF to pass on any additional reports. At 0844 the following morning, the FLM reported to the Coast Guard that the strongest signal was being received 5 nautical miles northwest of HNL. The Coast Guard reported that they had a C130 airplane returning to HNL and would do a shoreline pass.
At 1239, the owner of the accident airplane reported to the HCF that his airplane was missing; an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued at 1322. The Coast Guard subsequently located the wreckage in the vicinity of the last recorded radar return on the east side of steep, mountainous terrain at an elevation of 1,900 ft.
Figure 1. Radar Tracking Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 29, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/22/2012
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/04/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 127.5 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6.3 hours (Total, this make and model), 60 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
A review of FAA airman records revealed that the 29-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, which was issued on May 4, 2017. The pilot held an FAA first-class medical certificate issued in August 2012 with no waivers or limitations.
The logbook indicated that his first flight in the Beech 19A was a checkout flight with a flight instructor on June 8, 2017, for a total of 1.3 hours. The airplane flight time log indicated that this flight was actually recorded on July 8, 2017. Three other flights in the Beech 19A were identified in the pilot's logbook, with the last logged flight on July 19, 2017. The airplane flight time log indicated that the pilot also flew on July 21, 2017 for a total time of 0.9 hour; this flight was not logged in the pilot's logbook. Based on the entries in both logbooks, the pilot had accumulated about 6.3 hours in the Beech 19A.
The pilot's total flight experience was about 127.5 hours. He logged 9.1 hours in the previous 90 days, and 5.1 hours in the previous 30 days.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: BEECH
Registration: N6142N
Model/Series: 19A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1969
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: MB-413
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2250 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5072 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The 4-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number MB-413, was manufactured in 1969 and was powered by a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320-E2A engine, serial number L-24212-27A. A review of the maintenance logbooks showed that the airplane had accumulated a total airframe and engine time of 5,072.11 hours at the most recent annual inspection, dated February 1, 2017. The engine time since major overhaul was 1,613.51 hours, with 153.61 hours since top overhaul.
Dean "Dingo" Hutton, pilot
Weight and Balance
A current weight and balance calculation form was located within the wreckage. The form indicated a maximum gross weight of 2,250 lbs, and an empty weight of 1,436.40 lbs. Additional paperwork located within the wreckage addressed the fuel capacity for the airplane. A highlighted section of the Beechcraft Shop Manual indicated that each of the 2 fuel tanks contained a visual measuring tab in the filler neck; the lower tab indicated 15 gallons, and the upper tab indicated 20 gallons. The owner of the airplane reported that he checked the fuel level before the accident flight and that each tank indicated about 17.5 gallons of fuel.
The occupant seating locations and their weights were verified by an investigator for the Department of the Medical Examiner.
The gross weight at the time of departure was estimated at 2,311 lbs, 61 lbs over the airplane's maximum certificated gross weight. Per the center of gravity envelope graph for the airplane, it was loaded near its forward center-of-gravity (CG) limit at takeoff.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PHNL, 13 ft msl
Observation Time: 1853 MST
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 40°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2500 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 20°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots/ 23 knots, 60°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Honolulu, HI (PHNL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Honolulu, HI (PHNL)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1837 HST
Type of Airspace:
An automated surface weather observation at HNL (elevation 13 ft msl, 12 miles southeast of accident site) was issued 1 minute after the accident. It indicated wind from 060° at 12 knots gusting to 23 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 2,500 ft and 3,600 ft, scattered clouds at 7,500 ft and 20,000 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point 20°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury.
An automated surface weather observation at Wheeler Army Airfield (HHI), Wahiawa, Hawaii (elevation 843 ft msl, 5 miles northeast of accident site), was issued 1 minute after the accident. It indicated wind from 070° at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 2,000 ft, temperature 25°C, dew point 21°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 3 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 4 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 21.427222, -158.084722 (est)
The wreckage was located on steep mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 1,900 ft. The airplane collided with densely-vegetated terrain in a nearly wings-level attitude about 50 ft below a ridge that ran perpendicular to the main north/south-running ridgeline. The highest point of the ridge line near the accident site was about 2,800 ft. The accident site was located south of Pohakea Pass (2,100 ft), an area commonly used by pilots to transition the inland mountains of O'ahu (see figure 2).
Figure 2. Accident Site Location
All major components of the airplane were located and identified in the immediate area of the main wreckage. The outboard section of the right wing, with aileron attached, separated from the inboard section at the aileron/flap junction and was located about 30 ft below the main wreckage. The inboard section of the right wing remained attached at the wing root. The right flap separated from the inboard wing section and was also located below the main wreckage.
The left wing remained attached to the airframe wing root, and the aileron and flap remained intact and attached to the wing. Extensive compression-like impact damage was noted to the outboard section of the wing assembly.
The tail cone was compressed and buckled to the left. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, horizontal stabilizers, and elevators remained attached to the tail. The elevator control cables and rudder cables remained attached to the flight control surfaces in the tail.
Extensive impact-related damage was noted to the cockpit and cabin area. The inboard attachment points of the two front seats were impact-separated from the floor assembly.
The engine remained attached to the airframe by the engine mount and was displaced upward and aft toward the firewall. The vacuum pump and drive coupler were visible from the top rear section of the engine. The carburetor was not visible due to the engine positioning and surrounding terrain.
The spark plugs were secure, and their respective leads were attached. The top spark plugs were removed. The spark plug electrodes remained undamaged and displayed normal operating signatures when compared to the Champion Spark Plugs "Check-a-Plug" chart AV-27. Both magnetos appeared to be securely mounted at their respective mounting pads with their harnesses secured.
The rocker box covers at cylinder Nos. 1, 2, and 4 were removed. The No. 3 cover was not removed due to corrosion of the cover screws. The rocker boxes and valve train components appeared undamaged with no evidence of oil contamination or foreign objects.
The combustion chamber of each cylinder was examined through the spark plug holes via a lighted borescope. The chambers remained mechanically undamaged with no evidence of foreign object ingestion or detonation. The valves were intact and undamaged.
The fixed-pitch, metal propeller blades remained partially attached to the crankshaft flange. Complete rotation of the crankshaft was not possible due to the engine position; however, partial rotation was obtained, and continuity to the vacuum pump drive was confirmed.
The propeller blades displayed leading edge gouging, torsional twisting, chordwise striations across the cambered surface, and trailing edge "S" bending. The signatures were consistent with rotational forces applied at the crankshaft at the time of impact.
The wreckage was not recovered and remained at the accident site.
Medical And Pathological Information
The Department of the Medical Examiner, Honolulu, Hawaii completed an autopsy of the pilot and concluded that the cause of death was blunt impact to the torso.
The Federal Aviation Administration's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on specimens recovered from the pilot. The results of the testing were negative for carbon monoxide, volatiles, and tested drugs. The laboratory did not perform tests for cyanide.
Additional Information
FAA-H-8083-25B (2016), Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, stated:
The detrimental effects of overloading on performance are not limited to the immediate hazards involved with takeoffs and landings. Overloading has an adverse effect on all climb and cruise performance, which leads to overheating during climbs, added wear on engine parts, increased fuel consumption, slower cruising speeds, and reduced range.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 28, 2017 in Waipi'o, HI
Aircraft: BEECH 19A, registration: N6142N
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 28, 2017, about 1852 Hawaii standard time (HST), a Beech BE-19A, N6142N, collided with terrain near Waipi'o, Hawaii. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The private pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1837 HST.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice (ALNOT) at 1322 HST, July 29, when family members reported that the flight was overdue. The US Coast Guard located the wreckage later that day on steep, mountainous terrain at the last identified latitude and longitude .
A review of recorded air traffic control communications indicated that the airplane departed HNL runway 04R. Recorded radar data displayed the airplane's secondary beacon code as it departed and made a left turn to the northwest. After flying about 9 minutes along that course, the target made a left turn, and was at a mode C reported altitude of 1,800 feet mean sea level (msl). It made descending and climbing turns during the next 6 minutes. During the last minute, it climbed and was at a maximum mode C altitude of 2,000 feet when the target disappeared. The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR17FA170
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 28, 2017 in Waipi'o, HI
Aircraft: BEECH 19A, registration: N6142N
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 28, 2017, about 1852 Hawaii standard time (HST), a Beech BE-19A, N6142N, collided with terrain near Waipi'o, Hawaii. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The private pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1837 HST.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice (ALNOT) at 1322 HST, July 29, when family members reported that the flight was overdue. The US Coast Guard located the wreckage later that day on steep, mountainous terrain at the last identified latitude and longitude .
A review of recorded air traffic control communications indicated that the airplane departed HNL runway 04R. Recorded radar data displayed the airplane's secondary beacon code as it departed and made a left turn to the northwest. After flying about 9 minutes along that course, the target made a left turn, and was at a mode C reported altitude of 1,800 feet mean sea level (msl). It made descending and climbing turns during the next 6 minutes. During the last minute, it climbed and was at a maximum mode C altitude of 2,000 feet when the target disappeared.
Dean Hutton was the pilot of the aircraft that crashed in Kunia.
Alexis Aaron
Heather Riley and Gerrit Evensen
"I am deeply saddened by this tragic event. My prayers go out to all affected. I don't want to speculate on the cause of this accident as that will be determined by professionals in due time. I knew Dean and he loved flying and had many hours in that airplane. He had an alternator issue several flights ago, and he handled it like a professional, and the aircraft was repaired and returned to service."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Controllers last heard from the Beech 19A Musketeer Sport, just after 6:30 Friday night around Kaena Point. The next day, the U.S. Coast Guard received a call asking if they heard anything about any of their flights. At the time, they didn't.
"This is secondhand. Air Traffic Control called here about 10 in the morning it sounds like." said U.S. Coast Guard's Lieutenant Commander Ron Green.
Several hours later, the Coast Guard says District Headquarters alerted them about the missing plane.
"The aircraft that located the wreckage launched out of here about 2:15, 2:30 in the afternoon." said Green.
Emergency Locator Transmitters in the plane led them to the East side where they found the wreckage.
"Based upon where it had gone down, the aircrew had to use visual sighting to actually confirm the location of the aircraft that was down, because the trees on the ridge line were so thick." explained Green.
Green said there may have been some communication difficulties in getting search assets out looking for the downed aircraft. He warns, it's a reminder to always have a plan.
"File a flight plan. If you're on a boat file a float plan. Those things exist. Let somebody know where you're going and when you're going to be back, and if you don't come back, let them know who they should call. Call the coast guard, call HFD, call HPD".
The National Transportation Safety Board is now leading the investigation.
"So far we have not sent anyone to the scene. Once the recovery has been completed, then more than likely we will send an investigator to the scene to begin examining the aircraft." said Keith Holloway, Media Relations for NTSB.
NTSB says it's up to local authorities or the owner to remove the airplane.
A family of one of the victims told Island News they plan to work with the aircraft centers to try and avoid situations like this in the future. They suggest creating a law requiring all pilots to log their flight path.
Story and video ► http://www.kitv.com
HONOLULU, Hawaii (KTRK) -- The bodies of four people, two men and two women, were recovered from the scene of a plane crash Saturday afternoon.
A spokesperson for Lyssa Chapman, from "Dog the Bounty Hunter," said in a press release that the plane was piloted by Dean Hutton with passengers Gerrit Evenson, Heather Riley, and Alexis Aaron. Evenson is a friend of Chapman.
KHON reports that the group was on a round robin pleasure flight, and their car was found on Lagoon Drive.
Alexis Aaron was from Katy, Texas and attended Mayde Creek High School and Texas A&M University Corpus Christi before moving to Hawaii.
The small, private plane, with tail number N6142N, was reported missing Friday night with four passengers on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a Beech 19 aircraft using visual flight rules (VFR) from Honolulu last communicated with air traffic control at 6:37 p.m. Friday.
The U.S. Coast Guard located the wreckage at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday in a mountainous area above the Kunia farm lots.
There's no word on how long it might have been there or what condition it's currently in.
Crews set up a staging area at Hawaii Country Club in Wahiawa. A helicopter retrieved the bodies and brought them back to the area. The wreckage itself has yet to be recovered.
"In this case it's a very remote area, our rescue personnel had to repel off of our Air 1 helicopter to be inserted into the mountainside," said Craig Uchimura, Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief. "It's pretty treacherous up there. We'd be unable to get up there by vehicle, much less by foot. The rescue personnel did not report having any fuel or signs of fire at this time."
HFD said the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will take over the investigation.
Chapman and Evenson's sister Lei Evenson asks anyone who may have noticed anything off the waters of West Oahu last night to contact the police or Coast Guard.
"I'm understanding that this aircraft went out yesterday, but we didn't find out about it until today because no one knew they were missing, and the owner of the aircraft said they never checked in yesterday. So we found out about it today. So it's been 24 hours, I'm just guessing now. It's been a while, they've been out there a while," said Lt. Commander Ron Green, U.S. Coast Guard. "File a flight plan. File a float plan. Let somebody know where you're going, so that if you do go missing, we don't have to wait for the alarm."
Story and video ► http://abc13.com
WAIPAHU, Hawaii (AP) — A woman who graduated from a Katy-area high school is among four who died after a plane crashed in a mountainous area northwest of Honolulu.
Alexis Aaron was on board the plane with Gerrit Evensen, 28, Heather Riley, 27 and the pilot Dean Hutton. Rescue crews recovered the bodies of all on board.
Hutton's uncle, Scott Potwin, said the single-engine plane had previous engine troubles. The last time Hutton flew the same rental plane it lost all power and communications.
Aaron graduated from Mayde Creek High School in Katy and studied marine biology at Texas A&M and California State University. She was also a dancer and a fitness instructor, according to her Facebook page.
According the Federal Aviation Administration's registration site, the plane was owned by John P. Mueller. He did not return calls seeking comments.
Story and photo gallery ► http://www.chron.com
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Four bodies were recovered Saturday from the wreckage of a single-engine plane crash on a remote mountainside above Kunia.
The Beech 19A Musketeer Sport aircraft, with tail number N6142N, went missing on Friday evening, though the search didn't begin until 10 a.m. Saturday. The craft was found about 3:20 p.m. in an area inaccessible by vehicles.
Friends and family identified the four in the plane as Gerrit Evensen, his girlfriend Heather Riley, Alexis Aaron, and pilot Dean Hutton.
Authorities said the wreckage was found above the Kunia Loa ridge farmlands.
Just before 5:45 p.m. Saturday, the Honolulu Fire Department's Air One helicopter recovered the body of the first victim. All four bodies have since been transferred off the site.
Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Craig Uchimura said three of the victims were found inside the downed plane, while one was found outside.
"The wreckage was in an area that was very remote and inaccessible by vehicle," Uchimura said. "Our rescue personnel had to repel off our Air One helicopter to be inserted on the mountainside. It's pretty treacherous up there."
Lealyn Toponi, who was friends with three of the victims, said she was supposed to be on the downed plane.
"Alexis asked my boyfriend and I to go on the plane with them on Friday and we weren't able to make it. And so Heather and Gerrit were asked to take our place," she said. "They were just very open and loving people that were just leaders. They were the kind of people that inspired you to try anything."
Evensen, 28, was a graduate of Punahou School. Riley was 27.
Riley's mother said she had been informed of her daughter's death, but declined comment.
The FAA said the aircraft last communicated with air traffic controllers around 6:37 p.m. Friday. At that point, the plane was reportedly near Kaena Point.
The plane took off from Honolulu's airport on Friday, and it wasn't clear why the plane wasn't reported missing until Saturday morning.
Officials also said the aircraft diverted from its original flight path.
The plane is registered to John Mueller, who confirmed to Hawaii News Now on Saturday that he owns the aircraft.
In a bizarre twist, Mueller also owned the Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E plane that crashed June 30 into a stream just shy of Moanalua Gardens. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured in that crash.
A preliminary NTSB report said the plane had lost engine power shortly after takeoff.
Mueller declined to comment on Saturday's crash, and officials did not speculate what may have gone wrong.
An uncle of the pilot in Saturday's crash said the plane might have had maintenance issues. The uncle said Hutton knew about the issues, but decided to fly it anyway. He didn't say what the issues were, however.
A spokeswoman said the four killed in the crash were friends of Lyssa Chapman, of TV's "Dog the Bounty Hunter" fame, and that their car was recovered Friday night on Lagoon Drive.
"The families are also asking for your prayers," spokeswoman Mona Wood-Sword said, in a statement.
Story, photo gallery and video ► http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com
Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E, N4244T, Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii
Accident occurred June 30, 2017 in Moanalua, Honolulu, Hawaii
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR17LA138
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 30, 2017 in Honolulu, HI
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-140, registration: N4244T
Injuries: 3 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 30, 2017, about 1330 Hawaii standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4244T, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing near Honolulu, Hawaii. The private pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The local personal flight departed Honolulu International Airport at 1320. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 04L, the engine lost power about 300 feet agl. He made an emergency landing at the nearest clear area, which was a river bed. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest under a highway bridge and caught fire.
The plane is a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E and was built in 1971, owned by John P. Mueller of Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii, an aviation company located at the end of Lagoon Drive that services aircraft maintenance, engine overhauls and flight instruction. The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR17LA138
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 30, 2017 in Honolulu, HI
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-140, registration: N4244T
Injuries: 3 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 30, 2017, about 1330 Hawaii standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4244T, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing near Honolulu, Hawaii. The private pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The local personal flight departed Honolulu International Airport at 1320. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 04L, the engine lost power about 300 feet agl. He made an emergency landing at the nearest clear area, which was a river bed. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest under a highway bridge and caught fire.
A day after a single-engine plane crashed in a canal under Moanalua Freeway, we’re hearing from the plane’s owner.
The aircraft went down Friday afternoon under the bridge that runs over Moanalua Stream and burst into flames.
Three men in their 20s survived, thanks to Good Samaritans who rushed to their aid. They were hospitalized in serious condition and were still recovering in the hospital as of Saturday evening.
The wreckage has since been taken to a tow yard in Kapolei, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be heading the investigation into what happened.
The owner of the Piper PA-28 issued a statement commending the pilot for steering the plane to minimize tragedy.
In a statement, the plane’s owner, Jahn Mueller, owner of Aircraft Maintenance and Flight School Hawaii, said:
“My heart goes out to the pilot and passengers and their families. We commend the pilot for steering the plane to minimize tragedy. We thank the bystanders who helped assist the victims. The plane has a spotless safety record and a new engine, and had been flown just one hour before that particular flight.”
Mueller says he rented the plane to one person, who had two passengers.
George Hanzawa owns George’s Aviation Services, which was not involved in this incident, says the pilot did the best he could.
“(The area) is all warehouses and businesses. They needed some room to land and they didn’t have much choice,” Hanzawa said. “The choice that they did make was the correct one, because nobody got hurt on the ground. No property was damaged.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the NTSB would be taking the lead on this investigation. A NTSB spokesperson said the FAA was on scene to gather information, and it’s not yet clear if it will send its own investigator.
Officials will find out what happened, why it happened, and make recommendations so an incident like this doesn’t happen again. A preliminary report should be out within seven to 10 business days.
“At some point, you are kind of at the mercy of the airplane itself, and nature and the law of physics and gravity,” Hanzawa said. “The plane is going to come down. The pilot ultimately will take the aircraft to that level of control, because if it goes beyond that, it is uncontrollable.”
The state Department of Transportation confirms the crash did not cause any structural damage to the bridge or freeway.
http://khon2.com
MOANALUA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A single-engine plane crashed into a stream just shy of Moanalua Gardens on Friday, leaving its three occupants seriously injured and skidding to a halt under a Moanalua Freeway bridge.
First responders and bystanders said the crash happened in a busy area, and could have been much worse.
The plane missed the freeway overpass by less than 2 feet.
"In my 31 years in this business, it's extremely rare to have a plane crash in urban Honolulu," said Colin Wong, of the city's Emergency Medical Services. "It's fortunate today to come out with serious injuries, but nothing critical."
Paramedics said the three occupants in the plane were all in their 20s. They were taken to the Queen's Medical Center.
The crash happened about 1:30 p.m., and wreckage of the single-engine, fixed wing Piper PA-28 was quickly engulfed in flames after the crash. Some 35 firefighters responded to the scene and put out the fire, then worked to contain airplane fuel from entering nearby waters.
Witnesses said the plane dropped quickly, and may have been experiencing engine trouble.
"It was struggling to get altitude," said Russell Shimooka, who was driving on the H-1 Freeway and saw the plane going down. "All of a sudden the plane dipped, took a hard right turn and then started heading straight toward the ground."
He added, "It was just horrifying to see this thing just drop out of the air. It was like a leaf falling to the ground."
Harley Bone was at a nearby gas station when the plane crashed. He ran to help and was the first good Samaritan to respond.
Bone said all of the occupants of the plane were responsive as he helped them get out of the plane, but they appeared to be in shock.
"It was gnarly," he said, of the plane. "It was pretty mangled."
He added, "It was on fire and that was the first thing I told them, 'Your plane is on fire and we have to get you out, like now.' And I kept repeating that."
Bystanders said the pilot of the plane was able to avoid traffic on the Moanalua Freeway and a busy commercial area, landing the plane instead on the Moanalua Stream bed.
A couple of feet higher, and the plane would have slammed into the freeway.
"If it had got a little lower, he would have clipped one of those buildings. What are the chances?" Bone said.
Witness J.P. Damon was headed westbound on the freeway when he saw smoke, and called 911.
He said he thought at first that there was a debris fire under the bridge because the flames were so large. Then he saw the airplane's tail.
"I literally thought it was a couch on fire," he said.
Damon said the pilot was likely trying to get to Moanalua Gardens, but was about 200 yards short.
"It started popping. Made a couple of blasts and I was still on the phone with the fire department when it was doing that. I told them there was something igniting in it," he said.
Ezra Simbahon was coming off the freeway when he saw the plane losing altitude fast.
"I seen the plane coming down I was like what the hell is going on? Where's that plane going? And the thing just went down," he said. "I was like holy ... I thought it was going to hit the freeway and when I got closer, I seen everyone running."
Simbahon said he was worried the plane might explode and heard popping sounds erupting from the wreckage.
"I was telling everybody stand back, might blow up or something," he said. "I seen one guy crawling. But I don't know if he was actually from the plane wreckage. But he was crawling on the ground, rolling."
The FAA and NTSB have responded, and authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Records show the Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E, with tail no. N4244T, was manufactured in 1971 and re-certified last year.
The registered owner of the plane, Jahn P. Mueller, has a Honolulu address. National Transportation Safety Board records show no prior incidents involving the aircraft.
Mueller owns Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii, which advertises itself as a family-owned aircraft company specializing in small aircraft engines. Mueller worked in aircraft maintenance at Hawaiian Airlines before starting the company.
His website says the company also provides expert flight instructors able to train pilots all the way to commercial pilot status.
A Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E airplane crashed underneath a Moanalua Freeway bridge in Mapunapuna early this afternoon, seriously injuring the three men on board.
Shayne Enright, spokeswoman for the city Emergency Medical Services, said the three men, in their 20s, were all taken to a trauma center in serious condition but suffered no major injuries.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the plane “crashed under unknown circumstances.”
All lanes of the Moanalua Freeway, above the crash site, remained open.
The plane was manufactured in 1971 and registered to Jahn P. Mueller of Honolulu, according to FAA records.
Monique Bardo, director of operations for Ballard Mortuaries, was outside when she saw the plane flying above the canal then suddenly crash and explode underneath a bridge that crosses the water.
“The pilot got everybody out,” Bardo said. “It was right in the canal when it crashed. It was really loud. There was lots of black smoke that went all over the (Moanalua) freeway.
The mortuary, which is separated by a chain link fence from the crash site, was full of employees and mourners, she said.
“My gosh, it was so spooky,” Bardo said.
Honolulu firefighters received a report of a downed plane around 1:25 p.m., said Fire Capt. David Jenkins.
Kenitzer said the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
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HONOLULU - A small plane crashed near Moanalua Freeway in Mapunapuna Friday afternoon. Three men in their 20s were hospitalized in serious condition.
The plane is a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee E and was built in 1971, owned by John Mueller of Aircraft Maintenance Hawaii, an aviation company located at the end of Lagoon Drive that services aircraft maintenance, engine overhauls and flight instruction.
PA28s are part of family of light aircraft designed for personal use, flight training and used as air taxis.
The city says all lanes of Moanalua Freeway remain open. Police and fire crews responded to the scene.
Hawaii Department of Transportation says they inspected the bridge over the canal where the plane crashed and found no structural damage.
Allen Kenitzer of the Federal Aviation Administration released the following statement:
"A Piper PA28 crashed under unknown circumstances on Highway H1. Local authorities say that 3 people were onboard. Please check with local authorities for more information the occupants. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate."
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N4244T
Location: Honolulu, HI
Accident Number: WPR17LA138
Date & Time: 06/30/2017, 1330 HST
Registration: N4244T
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-140
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 3 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 30, 2017, about 1330 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N4244T, collided with the ground under a highway overpass following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. The private pilot, a commercial pilot rated passenger and a passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed HNL at 1320.
The pilot reported that a preflight inspection was accomplished and that a minimum of 20 gallons of fuel was on board. The engine was started, and the airplane was taxied to an open area for a run-up. Shortly after takeoff from runway 4 left, about 300 ft above ground level, the pilot noted that the engine lost power. He subsequently initiated an emergency landing to a riverbed; the airplane came to rest under a highway overpass and caught fire.
The rear seat passenger reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that the right seat pilot took control of the airplane just prior to the collision and he had cut off the mixture (and power) just prior to ground impact.
The owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been flown every day and no issues with the operation of the airplane were reported. He indicated that the fuel tanks would be filled to the tabs (20 gallons in each tank). The airplane would fly one flight with the fuel selector positioned to one fuel tank, and then on the next flight it would be positioned on the other fuel tank. Prior to the accident flight, the owner had instructed the pilots to switch fuel tanks prior to takeoff since they were used to flying in Cessna airplanes that flew with the fuel selector positioned to BOTH.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 None
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/03/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/29/2017
Flight Time: 68 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5 hours (Total, this make and model), 28 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Pilot-Rated Passenger Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/04/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/12/2016
Flight Time: 775 hours (Total, all aircraft), 657 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
The 20-year-old left seat pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating in airplane single-engine land. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate issued February 3, 2017 with no waivers or limitations. The pilot's total flight experience was about 68 hours. He logged 28 hours in the previous 90 days, and 8 hours in the previous 30 days. A total of 5 hours were logged in the make and model airplane involved in the accident.
The 28-year-old right seat pilot held a commercial certificate with ratings in airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration first-class medical certificate issued October 4, 2015, with no waivers or limitations. The pilot's total flight experience was about 775 hours.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N4244T
Model/Series: PA 28-140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1971
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7225103
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-320-E30
Registered Owner: MUELLER JAHN P
Rated Power: 140 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The 4-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 28-7225103, was manufactured in 1971 and was powered by a 140-horsepower Lycoming O-320 series engine. The owner of the airplane reported that the maintenance logbooks for both the airframe and engine were inside the airplane at the time of the accident and were destroyed in the post-crash fire. No total times nor maintenance inspection documentation was obtained.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PHNL
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1253 HST
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2700 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 17 knots / 25 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 79°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Honolulu, HI (PHNL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Unknown
Destination: Honolulu, HI (PHNL)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1320 HST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Honolulu (PHNL)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 12 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 21.316667, -157.916667 (est)
The airplane came to rest under an overpass about 1.5 miles north of the departure end of runway 4 left. The ground was dirt and loose rocks. The first of 3 ground impact points was noted about 55 ft south of the main wreckage. The main wreckage was facing to the south and laying on its belly. The landing gear had separated and was in front of the engine, which remained partially attached at the firewall. The inboard section of the right wing remained partially attached at the fuselage. The outboard wingtip section was separated and within about 13 ft of the wreckage. The left wing, in its entirety, remained attached to the fuselage, however was deformed about mid-section. The empennage remained in place. All flight control surfaces were accounted for. The aft end of the engine and cabin area, aft to the baggage compartment, was consumed by the postimpact fire.
The postaccident engine examination revealed that the engine sustained fire damage primarily to the rear engine compartment. The cockpit controls were destroyed and could not be moved or identified. A visual examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a catastrophic engine failure.
The top and bottom spark plugs were removed and noted that the electrodes displayed normal operating signatures. The magnetos remained in place to their mountings, however were destroyed by heat distress and could not be tested.
The engine valve covers were removed and the crankshaft was turned by hand. Thumb compression was established in each cylinder. Accessory gear and valve train continuity was established. The oil filter/screen was destroyed. The carburetor was destroyed by fire.
The fuel selector valve was burned and melted. The valve position could not be verified.
NTSB Identification: WPR17LA138
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 30, 2017 in Honolulu, HI
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-140, registration: N4244T
Injuries: 3 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 30, 2017, about 1330 Hawaii standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4244T, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing near Honolulu, Hawaii. The private pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The local personal flight departed Honolulu International Airport at 1320. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 04L, the engine lost power about 300 feet agl. He made an emergency landing at the nearest clear area, which was a river bed. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest under a highway bridge and caught fire.
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