Piper PA-31-350 accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, November 20, 1987
On November 20, 1987 at about 9:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N27512, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. 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
- November 20, 1987 · about 9:24 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N27512 · registry record · serial 217852035
- 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
THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S REDUCED FUEL QUANTITY WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE FLIGHT DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED FOR THE TRAFFIC PATTERN NEAR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT BOTH ENGINES FAILED. AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A PARK WITH THE LANDING GEAR NOT FULLY EXTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AND SLID INTO A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,190 hours in all; 1,685 in this make and model; 258 in the last 90 days; 123 in the last 30 days; 4,046 as pilot in command; 1,640 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,315 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 3, 1987; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airtour Acquisition CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: KOA Kona HI at 7:35 pm
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from HNL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.