Cessna 337H accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 337H, registered N2AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN CUMULUS CLOUD CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337H · all 337Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2AC · registry record · serial 33701832
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 6000 FEET MSL ENROUTE TO AUSTRALIA ON A FERRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT OF A CESSNA 337 EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND SEVERE TURBULENCE WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS. DURING THE ENCOUNTER THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP THEN PITCHED DOWN TO A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS UNBUCKLED AT THE TIME TO TUNE AN HF RADIO LOCATED BEHIND HIS SEAT. AFTER THE ENCOUNTER THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HE RETURNED UNEVENTFULLY TO HONOLULU.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 23 in the last 30 days; 9,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brent International
The flight
- Destination: NGTA Tarawa OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.