Beech 19A accident near Waipi'O, Hawaii, July 29, 2017
On July 29, 2017 at about 4:52 am local time, a 1969 Beech 19A, registered N6142N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Waipi'O, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's controlled flight into terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at low altitude in close proximity to the rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2017 · about 4:52 am local time
- Place
- Waipi'O, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 19A, built 1969 · all 19As on the register
- Registration
- N6142N · no longer on the register · serial MB-413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and three passengers departed on a local flight in day visual meteorological conditions. Radar data identified the flight shortly after takeoff at 1,800 ft mean sea level (msl), traveling on a northwesterly heading. As the flight continued, the altitude varied between about 1,100 ft and 1,800 ft as the airplane conducted three 360° turns. Following the third turn, the airplane was heading west, climbing from 1,800 ft to 2,000 ft msl as it approached a ridgeline that ran perpendicular to its flight path. Data indicated that the airplane then entered a left turn; the data ended in the vicinity of the accident site at an altitude about 1,900 ft msl. The wreckage was located on steep, mountainous terrain at an elevation about 1,900 ft msl. The airplane collided with the densely-vegetated terrain in a nearly wings-level attitude about 50 ft below a ridge that ran perpendicular to the main north/south running ridgeline. The highest point of the ridge line near the accident site was about 2,800 ft. The accident site was located south of a pass in an area commonly used by pilots to transition the inland mountains of the island. The lowest point of the pass was about 2,100 ft. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, and a witness reported that the engine was producing power until impact. It is unknown if the pilot was attempting to cross the ridge through the pass, was planning to fly along the ridgeline when the impact occurred, or was going to attempt to climb over the higher ridge. Regardless, the pilot decided to fly at low altitude, providing him little margin for error and he failed to maintain sufficient altitude above the mountainous terrain.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127.5 hours in all; 6.3 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,072 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHNL Honolulu HI at 4:37 am
- Destination: PHNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PHNL, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR17FA170.