Piper PA-28-140 accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, November 4, 1994
On November 4, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N3198Q, was destroyed in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu airport). It was a business 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
Improper loading of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3198Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725219
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIPER PA-28-140, AIRCRAFT OWNER/PILOTS WERE DEPARTING FOR THE ISLAND OF KAUAI TO PERFORM SOME MASONRY WORK. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 1/2-MILE FROM THE RUNWAY END. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED WITH MASONRY TOOLS, TILES, CLOTHES, A LIFE RAFT AND A LARGE ICE CHEST. THE BAGGAGE/CARGO THAT HAD NOT BEEN CONSUMED IN THE POSTCRASH FIRE WAS WEIGHED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT BY ABOUT 241 POUNDS. THE REAR SEAT HAD BEEN REMOVED AND ITS WEIGHT SUBTRACTED FROM THE LOAD WHICH WAS NOT SECURED. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING LOW AND SLOW WITH A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HNL HI at 9:30 pm
- Destination: LIH Kauai HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4L, 6,952 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from HNL, 2 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.