Cessna 150K accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, December 11, 1985
On December 11, 1985 at about 11:43 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6347G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- December 11, 1985 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6347G · no longer on the register · serial 15071847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT 5 MINS AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG REDUCED TO IDLE PWR, & ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FULL PWR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT DID STATE THAT BRIEF PERIODS OF PWR OBTAINED BY USING THE HAND PRIMER. THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT & WAS DITCHED ABOUT 25 YDS FROM SHORE. THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED, & LATER EXAMINED BY FAA INSPECTORS. THE #3 CYLINDER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDER WITH A CASTLATED NUT & COTTER PIN, HOWEVER, IT WAS FREE TO MOVE ABOUT 1/8TH OF AN INCH AWAY FROM THE CYLINDER WITH MINOR HAND PRESSURE. NO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE REPORTED BY THE FAA INSPECTORS.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MKK Molokai HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from HNL, 5 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.