Cessna 182F accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii, April 1, 1997
On April 1, 1997 at about 10:12 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3652U, was destroyed in an accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii (Dillingham airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An unintentional stall for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1997 · about 10:12 pm local time
- Place
- Mokuleia, Hawaii · Dillingham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3652U · no longer on the register · serial 18255052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before takeoff with the four parachutists, he had checked the flight controls and no evidence of any mechanical problems was noted. During the takeoff roll the airplane accelerated between 60 and 65 mph, became airborne and pitched 60 degrees nose up. The pilot further reported that he applied forward pressure on the control yoke, but there was no response. The airplane banked right, stalled, descended, and collided with trees. The pilot further reported that he notified the Unicom operator he was 'coming back around.' However, the control yoke was still 'frozen in position' and could not be moved forward or aft. The airplane's pitch could not be controlled, and the airplane descended into the water and sank. The main wreckage was not recovered. The pilot's report of a jammed yoke could not be verified due to the lack of physical evidence.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,700 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1996; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDH at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 9,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.