Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, December 21, 1994
On December 21, 1994 at about 5:53 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N3250K, was destroyed in an accident near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It was a personal 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
a delamination of the wooden propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1994 · about 5:53 pm local time
- Place
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N3250K · no longer on the register · serial 819
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO CONTROLLERS ON DUTY IN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT THE KAILUA AIRPORT, SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING, HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS LOOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. IN HIS STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE WOODEN PROPELLER DELAMINATED AND A SEVERE VIBRATION SHOOK THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP BEHIND A BEACH RESORT HOTEL, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE BEACH, COLLIDED WITH PALM TREES, AND CAREENED INTO THE HOTEL BAR. THERE WERE NO GROUND INJURIES.
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: 115 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGG Kahului, Maui HI at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from KOA, 7 miles away
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.