Piper PA28 - 181 accident near Ho'Olehua, Hawaii, May 6, 2014
On May 6, 2014 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Piper PA28 - 181, registered N4338V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ho'Olehua, Hawaii (Molokai airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2014 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ho'Olehua, Hawaii · Molokai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 - 181 181 · all PA28 - 181s on the register
- Registration
- N4338V · registry record · serial 28-8490052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed a go-around on the first landing attempt. On the second landing attempt the airplane ballooned during the flare and subsequently impacted the runway with the propeller and the nose landing gear; the nose gear collapsed and separated from the airplane. A postaccident damage assessment revealed that the airplane's engine mount had sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,139 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 8,380 hours total
- Operator: Washin Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HNY Lanai City HI at 11:05 pm
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 4,494 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.