Beechcraft E18S N342E
23 April 1992 · Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 April 1992 at about 01:53 local time, a Beechcraft E18S registered N342E was involved in an accident near Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, United States. 9 people were on board and 9 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:53
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 20.8505, -156.3194
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft E18S
- Registration
- N342E
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hilo → Honolulu
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92MA184
People
9 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT OBSCURED RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE AVAILABLE NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE ISLAND OF MAUI. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF SCENIC AIR TOURS TO CONDUCT SUBSTANTIVE PILOT PREEMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND SCREENING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS TO CONDUCT SUBSTANTIVE PILOT PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING. (NTSB REPORT AAR-93/01)
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING THE AIR TOUR FLT THE PLT HAD RADIOED HIS INTENTIONS TO FSS TO OVERFLY AN AREA ABOUT 5 MI SW OF THE ISLAND OF MAUI. APRX 10 MIN LATER THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON THE ISLAND. IMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DID NOT POSSESS THE MINIMUM HOURS STIPULATED IN THE COMPANY OPS MANUAL TO QUALIFY AS A CAPTAIN. HE FALSIFIED THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION & RESUME. THE COMPANY DID NOT PURSUE SUBSTANTIVE PREEMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS, NOR WERE THEY REQUIRED BY THE FAA TO DO SO. REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR AIR TOUR OPERATORS THAT WILL ENABLE FAA INSPECTORS TO REQUIRE, RATHER THAN MERELY ENCOURAGE, OPERATORS TO ADHERE TO PROCEDURES THAT OFFER THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS OF SFAR 50-2 AND FAA HANDBOOK 8400.10 BULLETIN 92-01.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft E18S accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 1992 | Beechcraft E18S | Eloy, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft E18S | Martinsville, Ohio, United States | Gary Jelinek | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1993 | Beechcraft E18S | Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States | Active Aero Charter, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft E18S | Bimini, Bahamas | Pleasure Flying Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1993 | Beechcraft E18S | Lemont, Pennsylvania, United States | Centre Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 May 1993 | Beechcraft E18S | Xenia, Ohio, United States | Skydive Greene Co Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Kaaawa, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Intl Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 7 Nov 1992 | Schweizer SGS 2-32 | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | Honolulu Soaring Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Bell 206B-III | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Paramount Pictures | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Dec 1992 | Hughes 369C | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1992 | Hughes 269B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Maui Wing and Rotor | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Cessna 185F | Lanai, Hawaii, United States | Wings of Hope, Inc. | No injuries | - |