Wsk Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80 N112B

Summary

On 30 November 2000 at about 02:30 local time, a Wsk Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80 registered N112B was involved in an accident near Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 November 2000 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

21.0793, -157.0097

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80

Registration

N112B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Honolulu → Kahului

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA047

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper assessment of in-flight weather conditions, his inadequate compensation for winds, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance on the lee side of mountainous terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane lost airspeed and altitude while sightseeing in a valley and made an emergency landing on a hillside in mountainous terrain. While looking at the valley below the airplane was caught in a severe downdraft from which the pilot was unable to recover. There were no discrepancies noted with the airframe or power plant by the pilot. He did note that when he added power there was not enough power available to compensate for the downdraft. The pilot stated that his preflight weather briefing indicated clear skies with visual flight rules recommended. He also stated that the airplane was caught in a downdraft on the lee side of mountainous terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.