Emroth Emair MA-1B accident near Pahala, Hawaii, December 5, 1995
On December 5, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Emroth Emair MA-1B, registered N88899, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pahala, Hawaii (Upper Paauau Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for wind conditions, and to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pahala, Hawaii · Upper Paauau Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Emroth Emair MA-1B
- Registration
- N88899 · no longer on the register · serial 041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INDICATED THE WIND SHIFTED DURING LANDING AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE AIRSTRIP DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR THEN BROKE AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRSTRIP IS ABOUT 1,965 FEET LONG AND 40 FEET WIDE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,115 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820-99 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HI29
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,965 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from ITO, 39 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.