American AA-1C accident near Kalaupapa, Hawaii, June 19, 1989
On June 19, 1989, a American AA-1C, registered N88ME, was destroyed in an accident near Kalaupapa, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO PREVENT A STALL FROM WHICH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1989
- Place
- Kalaupapa, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American AA-1C · all AA-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N88ME · no longer on the register · serial AA1C0073
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ABORT AN ATTEMPT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23 AND ENTER A LOW, LEFT HAND PATTERN FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT. THE WINDS WERE FAVORING RUNWAY 5 AT NINE KNOTS GUSTING TO TWENTY TWO KNOTS. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE PATTERN AND APPROACH AS LOW AND UNSTABLE. ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SUDDENLY ROCKED BACK AND FORTH AND THEN DISAPPEARED INTO THE OCEAN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,914 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 23, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 11:27 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from MKK, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.