Piper PA-28-181 accident near Waihee-Waiehu, Hawaii, June 17, 2013
On June 17, 2013 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N9160Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Waihee-Waiehu, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies due to saltwater immersion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2013 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Waihee-Waiehu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N9160Q · no longer on the register · serial 2890103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight, the pilot noticed that the engine had begun running roughly; he then performed a series of troubleshooting procedures, which corrected the problem. About 5 to 10 minutes later, the engine began running roughly again, and the pilot performed the troubleshooting procedures a second time. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noticed that the engine rpm was fluctuating between 1,500 and 2,450 and that the airplane would not maintain altitude. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, and, during the landing roll, the airplane struck bushes and trees before it came to rest in a nose-low position. During the recovery of the airplane using a helicopter long-line operation, the wreckage began to spin. The helicopter pilot jettisoned the external load cable attached to the airplane. Subsequently, the wreckage descended and impacted water just offshore from the accident site. The engine and one wing were recovered from the water about 2 days later. Postaccident examination of the recovered engine revealed signatures consistent with salt water submersion and severe corrosion. The saltwater immersion destroyed much of the evidence, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,148 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,022 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,705 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2013; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Honolulu HI at 1:30 am
- Destination: Kahului HI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 16 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from PHOG, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.