Cessna 208B accident near Kualapuu, Hawaii, January 16, 2023
On January 16, 2023 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 2008 Cessna 208B, registered N236KA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Kualapuu, Hawaii (Molokai Airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate altitude during a circling approach procedure in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2023 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kualapuu, Hawaii · Molokai Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B, built 2008 · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N236KA · registry record · serial 208B2034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was conducting an instrument approach in dark night conditions, and during the approach he thought the airplane was too high. The pilot performed a left turn circling procedure to lose altitude. During the turn, the pilot loss sight of the runway and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,040.3 hours in all; 1,626.6 in this make and model; 152.4 in the last 90 days; 8.5 in the last 30 days; 1,958.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,160.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 9,062 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pwc PT6-114A (turboshaft); 10,701 hours total
- Operator: Kamaka Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PHNL Honolulu HI at 2:35 pm
- Destination: PHMK Hoolehua HI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 050, 3,118 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from PHMK, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PHMK 162354Z 31005KT 10SM FEW050 26/20 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02610200 10272 20200 58029
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.