Cessna 172M accident near Pahala, Hawaii, June 17, 2008
On June 17, 2008 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13713, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Pahala, Hawaii. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to remain clear of rising terrain while deviating from his planned route of flight. Contributing to the accident were clouds and mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2008 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Pahala, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13713 · no longer on the register · serial 17262960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying an air tour circumnavigation flight around the island. The visual-flight-rules flight plan specified that the flight would maintain 2,000 feet mean sea level and proceed via the shoreline. The pilot received a standard weather briefing, which included forecast cloud conditions near the accident site of 3,000 feet scattered, 5,000 feet broken to overcast with tops at 9,000 feet, and isolated areas of 3,000 feet broken. Visibility was 5 statute miles with moderate rain showers. A witness was located about 1 nautical mile (nm) from the crash site and heard the airplane. The witness said that the weather at that time was very foggy, misty, and rainy. When the airplane did not arrive at its destination, a search was initiated. The wreckage was located 5 days later at 4,500 feet, on the side of a volcano in thick jungle approximately 9 nm inland from the ocean. It is likely the pilot deviated from his planned route along the shoreline and inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions and collided with the rising mountainous terrain. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or discrepancies.
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
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Decision related to condition
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Clouds › Response/compensation
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 4,400 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 7, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,921 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 23, 2008; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Above It All, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KOA Kailua-Kona HI at 8:20 pm
- Destination: KOA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ITO, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.