Grumman AA-5A accident near Kamuela, Hawaii, April 9, 1984
On April 9, 1984 at about 1:10 am local time, a Grumman AA-5A, registered N26413, was destroyed in an accident near Kamuela, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1984 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Kamuela, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-5A
- Registration
- N26413 · no longer on the register · serial 0574
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WITH 4 OCCUPANTS ON BOARD WAS BEING USED ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT TO MAUNA LOA VOLCANO. THE PLT WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH HILO TOWER FROM 1503 TO 1506 HST. HE INDICATED CONCERN ABOUT THE CLOUDS & DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED TO THE VOLCANO. WHEN THE ACFT FAILED TO RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT IT WAS HAMPERED BY RAINS. ON 4/12/84, THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON THE NORTH SLOPE OF MAUNA KEA VOLCANO. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED (HDG 320)ON DOWNWARD SLOPING TERRAIN WHILE IN A STEEP DESCENT. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT. THE ACFT WAS ACCORDIONED, 10 FT FROM THE BULKHEAD TO THE EMPENNAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OR POWER FAILURE WERE FOUND. THE ACFT CLOCK HAD STOPPED AT 3:10.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 113 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 4, 1984; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 E2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA Kona HI
- Destination: ITO Hilo HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from ITO, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.