Cessna 150L accident near Kona, Hawaii, September 23, 1995
On September 23, 1995 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10637, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kona, Hawaii (Keahole International airport). It was an instructional 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
the failure of the student pilot to properly execute a planned steep approach and long landing so as to avoid wake turbulence behind the preceding large aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1995 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Kona, Hawaii · Keahole International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10637 · no longer on the register · serial 15074935
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE STUDENT PILOT'S SECOND UNSUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT SHE WAS CLEARED BY THE TOWER FOR A STOP-AND-GO LANDING BEHIND A MILITARY C-130 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE WAS AWARE OF THE WAKE TURBULENCE HAZARD AND THAT SHE INTENDED TO FLY HER APPROACH ABOVE THE GLIDEPATH OF THE C-130. SHE REPORTED THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY WHEN THE 'AIRCRAFT VEERED SWIFTLY TO [THE] RIGHT DIPPING DOWN AND NOSING OVER TO COLLIDE WITH [THE] RUNWAY'. INVESTIGATORS REPORTED THAT INITIAL IMPACT MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE RUNWAY, 362 FEET BEYOND THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 700 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD.
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: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,233 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 17, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.