Piper PA-28-151 accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, May 30, 1995
On May 30, 1995 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N6243J, was destroyed in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel exhaustion resulting from pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning for the over water flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1995 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N6243J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615342
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot called ATC and advised that he was experiencing a rough running engine, an intermittent engine, and finally, engine failure. The pilot reported he had less than 10 gallons of fuel and that there were three people onboard. ATC then lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft. A pilot flying in he vicinity reported seeing the aircraft inverted in the water. Two victims were recovered from the water and the third remains missing. A witness said the pilot was anxious to return to Honolulu. Fueling records showed 35.1 gallons of fuel was delivered on 5/27. The pilot then flew the aircraft on a local test flight of about 1 hour. There was no record of a fuel purchase on 5/26, or subsequent fuel purchases. On two prior occasions the pilot had been forced to make unplanned landings due to low fuel.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA Kona HI at 5:50 pm
- Destination: HNL HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
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 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:11 pm from HNL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.