Amateur-built Jodel D-9 accident near Waialua, Hawaii, October 21, 2001
On October 21, 2001 at about 10:57 pm local time, a amateur-built Jodel D-9, registered N43RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waialua, Hawaii (Dillingham Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for unknown reasons. A factor was the inadvertent stall the pilot encountered while maneuvering to make a forced landing in an open taro field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2001 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Waialua, Hawaii · Dillingham Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Jodel D-9
- Registration
- N43RR · registry record · serial JODEL D-9-R-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot maneuvered to make an off-airport landing due to a loss of engine power. During the turn to land the airplane's wing dropped, the airplane stalled and spun into the ground. There were no radio communications from the accident pilot indicating that he had a problem. During the on-scene inspection the FAA did not observe fuel or smell evidence of fuel on the ground or around the airplane. There were no discrepancies noted with the engine.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 372 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen Conversion (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Mokuleia HI at 10:46 pm
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from HNL, 44 miles away
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.