Cessna 208 and Cessna 172 accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, October 31, 2019
On October 31, 2019 at about 11:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208 (N926FE) and Cessna 172 (N274MM), were involved in the same accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Daniel K Inouye Intl airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the Cessna's failure to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the taxiway.
The pilot of the Cessna's failure to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2019 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Daniel K Inouye Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 208 B, built 1987 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N926FE · registry record · serial 208B0026
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 S, built 2003 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N274MM · registry record · serial 172S9320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Cessna 208B airplane reported that, during taxi to the runway for departure, his airplane was positioned approximately 50 ft behind another airplane holding for departure. He added that, he set the condition lever at low idle, and the power lever was set all the way aft to idle. He said he then set the parking brake before diverting his attention to inside of the airplane. Shortly after, he was startled by a noise and vibration, looked up, and realized his airplane had taxied into the airplane in front of him. A postaccident examination of the Cessna 208B by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation. Given the absence of any mechanical issues with the Cessna 208B's brake system, it is likely the pilot inadvertently failed to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, and the airplane subsequently collided with the airplane ahead.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Cessna 208B airplane reported that, during taxi to the runway for departure, his airplane was positioned approximately 50 ft behind another airplane holding for departure. He added that, he set the condition lever at low idle, and the power lever was set all the way aft to idle. He said he then set the parking brake before diverting his attention to inside of the airplane. Shortly after, he was startled by a noise and vibration, looked up, and realized his airplane had taxied into the airplane in front of him. A postaccident examination of the Cessna 208B by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation. Given the absence of any mechanical issues with the Cessna 208B's brake system, it is likely the pilot inadvertently failed to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, and the airplane subsequently collided with the airplane ahead.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 208 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,279 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,738.7 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 16, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A (turboprop); 13,811 hours total
- Operator: Corporate Air
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: LIH Lihue HI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PHNL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 405 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 12, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.