Piper PA-31 accident near Hilo, Hawaii, October 14, 1993
On October 14, 1993, a Piper PA-31, registered N7079J, was destroyed in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the right engine's magnetos for undetermined reasons and the resulting overtemperature of the remaining left engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1993
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N7079J · no longer on the register · serial 31-663
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN OCEANIC FERRY FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE DEVELOPED MAGNETO PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN ONLY RESIDUAL POWER BEING AVAILABLE. THE PIC INCREASED THE POWER ON THE REMAINING LEFT ENGINE, BUT IT SOON OVERHEATED. THE PIC ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. BOTH CREWMEMBERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,356 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 25, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-540-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Contract Services
The flight
- Departed from: PLCH Christmas Is HI at 8:36 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.