Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) NOMAD 24A accident near Lanai, Hawaii, September 2, 1987
On September 2, 1987, a Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) NOMAD 24A, registered N37808, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lanai, Hawaii (Lanai airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
- September 2, 1987
- Place
- Lanai, Hawaii · Lanai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) NOMAD 24A
- Registration
- N37808 · no longer on the register · serial N24A-99F
- 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
WHEN THE FLT WAS APRX 15 MI WEST OF LANAI ON A CARGO FLT FROM HONOLULU TO HILO, HI, THE PLT OBSERVED THE FUEL GAUGES OSCILLATING ERRATICALLY TOWARD THE LOW SIDE. HE DIVERTED TOWARD LANAI TO REFUEL. HOWEVER, WHEN THE FLT WAS ABT 9 MI WESTOF LANAI, THE LEFT ENG FLAMED OUT. THE PLT FEATHERED THE LEFT ENG, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER (ABOUT 2 MI WEST OF LANAI), THE RIGHT ENG FLAMED OUT. WITH BOTH PROPS FEATHERED, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON AN UPWARD SLOPING ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PLANE'S LEFT WING TIP STRUCK A SIGNPOST & A DIRT BANK WHICH CAUSED THE PLANE TO PIVOT FURTHER LEFT & NOSE INTO THE EMBANKMENT. NO FUEL OR FUEL LEAKAGE WAS FOUND DURING A POST-ACDNT EXAM. WHEN 1ST CHECKED, THE LEFT OUTBOARD FUEL GAUGE INDCD 70 TO 80 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING. LATER, BOTH LEFT FUEL GAUGES HAD ZERO READINGS. THE RGT OUTBOARD & INBOARD FUEL GAUGES INDCD 25 & 20 LBS, RESPECTIVELY.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,100 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 996 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 28, 1987; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-B17C (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Inter Island Air
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI
- Destination: Hilo HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.