Convair BT-13A accident near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, April 17, 2000
On April 17, 2000 at about 9:06 pm local time, a Convair BT-13A, registered N56336, was destroyed in an accident near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to anticipate turbulence from the formation lead airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2000 · about 9:06 pm local time
- Place
- Pearl Harbor, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Convair BT-13A · all BT-13As on the register
- Registration
- N56336 · no longer on the register · serial 6656
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying a replica Japanese Val during the filming of 'Pearl Harbor' on Ford Island, Hawaii. The movie shot called for a low pass of three Val's over a movie set with 65-foot-tall palm trees. The number 2 and 3 wingmen were to stack up (above) on the flight leader number 1. At the completion of the pass, the number 3 wingman's left wing contacted a palm tree, severing about 18 feet of left wing. The airplane rolled twice and descended into the ground. The pilot was wearing a 5-point restraint system and survived with serious injuries. Video and film were viewed to determine whether or not smoke created by smoke generators for the movie shot were a factor affecting the pilot's view of the palm trees. The pilot reported the smoke was not an issue. The last thing he recalled was turbulence from the flight leader.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,754 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2000; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Big Ship Productions, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NPS Ford Island HI at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from HNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.