Amateur-built AA1C accident near Molokai, Hawaii, September 28, 1984
On September 28, 1984 at about 11:16 pm local time, a amateur-built AA1C, registered N9541U, was destroyed in an accident near Molokai, Hawaii. It was an instructional 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
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
- September 28, 1984 · about 11:16 pm local time
- Place
- Molokai, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA1C
- Registration
- N9541U · registry record · serial 1600
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON THE LAST LEG OF HIS 1ST X-COUNTRY FLT FROM HONOLULU, HI, TO LANAI, HI, TO MOLOKAI, HI, & RETURN TO HONOLULU. HE DEPARTED MOLOKAI AT 1304 HST & AT 1311, HE REPORTED ABEAM LAAU POINT. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 15 TO 20 MI WEST OF LAAU POINT & WAS 'HAVING ENG TROUBLE - GOING INTO THE WATER.' THE COAST GUARD & CIVIL AIR PATROL CONDUCTED A SEARCH, BUT NEITHER THE ACFT NOR THE PLT WERE FOUND. THE ACFT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DITCHED & DESTROYED. THE PLT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES OR DROWNED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: MKK Molokai HI at 11:04 pm
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from MKK, 28 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.