Cessna 185F accident near Lanai, Hawaii, December 13, 1992
On December 13, 1992 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 185F, registered N4742E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lanai, Hawaii (Lani airport). It was a ferry 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 FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSEN BY THE PILOT FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 1992 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Lanai, Hawaii · Lani · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4742E · registry record · serial 18503853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A TRANS PACIFIC FERRY FLIGHT FROM THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES TO INDONESIA. AFTER STOPPING IN HILO, HAWAII, THE PILOT DEPARTED ON AN INTER ISLAND CROSS COUNTRY TO HONOLULU. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURES WERE EXCESSIVELY HIGH AND HE FELT A VIBRATION IN THE AIRFRAME. HE DIVERTED TO LANI AND LANDED. WHILE ON THE GROUND HE INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PERFORMED A GROUND RUN UP, WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE PILOT THEN TOOK OFF TO CONTINUE TO HONOLULU. THE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO A GRASSY AREA NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM HIDDEN IN THE TALL GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. AFTER REPLACING THE PROP THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND OPERATED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. ALL PRESSURES AND TEMPERATURES WERE NORMAL. POST RUN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FITTED WITH A 196 GALLON FERRY FUEL TANK SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE CABIN.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 36,539 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 35,000 as pilot in command; 15,695 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1992; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wings Of Hope, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LNY at 1:14 am
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.
Other NTSB records under N4742E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.