Beech 65-A90 accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii, June 22, 2019
On June 22, 2019 at about 4:22 am local time, a 1967 Beech 65-A90, registered N256TA, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Mokuleia, Hawaii (Dillingham Airfield). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 11 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 aggressive takeoff maneuver, which resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that was too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident were (1) the operation of the airplane near its aft center of gravity limit and the pilot’s lack of training and experience with the handling qualities of the airplane in this flight regime; (2) the failure of Oahu Parachute Center and its contract mechanic to maintain the airplane in an airworthy condition and to detect and repair the airplane’s twisted left wing, which reduced the airplane’s stall margin; and (3) the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) insufficient regulatory framework for overseeing parachute jump operations. Contributing to the pilot’s training deficiencies was the FAA’s lack of awareness that the pilot’s flight instructor was providing substandard training.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2019 · about 4:22 am local time
- Place
- Mokuleia, Hawaii · Dillingham Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 11 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-A90, built 1967 · all 65-A90s on the register
- Registration
- N256TA · no longer on the register · serial LJ-256
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Analysis pending
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
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Type/qual of instruct/training › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › Self confidence › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › CG/weight distribution › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Main frame (on wing) › Damaged/degraded
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Operator
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Inadequate inspection
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › FAA/Regulator
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of maintenance › FAA/Regulator
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Training › Initial training › FAA/Regulator
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Organizational issues › Management › Culture › Safety › Operator
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Related records
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Other
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Personality/attitude › (general) › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,086 hours in all; 214 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 13, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 Series (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 Series (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Mokuleia HI at 4:21 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 9,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from PHHI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 10 |
Other NTSB records under N256TA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 WPR19MA177.