Amateur-built DHC 6-300 accident near Tau, Manu'A, Hawaii, May 12, 1984
On May 12, 1984 at about 1:35 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC 6-300, registered N28SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tau, Manu'A, Hawaii (Tau airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 20 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 12, 1984 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Tau, Manu'A, Hawaii · Tau
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 20 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC 6-300
- Registration
- N28SP · registry record · serial 601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, UPON ARRIVAL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ARPT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSOCK INDICATED SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KTS. THIS, PLUS LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN LED THE CREW TO FLY A SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN NORMAL APPROACH AT 85 KNOTS WITH 37.5 DEGS OF FLAPS. DURING THE FLARE WIND SHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED CAUSING A DECREASE IN AIRSPEED AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. POWER WAS ADDED BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 4,300 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,161 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PPG Pago Pago OF at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from PPG, 72 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 18 |
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.