Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report
Location: Honolulu, HI Accident Number: ANC25FA010
Date & Time: December 17, 2024, 15:15 Local Registration: N689KA
Aircraft: Cessna 208B Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
On December 17, 2024, about 1515 Hawaii-Aleutian Standard time, a turbine-powered Cessna
208B airplane, N689KA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Honolulu,
Hawaii. The two pilots onboard were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
According to the operator, Kamaka Air, the instructor pilot, seated in the left seat, and the pilot
receiving instruction, seated in the right seat, departed the Daniel K. Inouye International
Airport (PHNL), Honolulu, at 1514. The purpose of the flight was to provide the pilot receiving
instruction with additional training as part of the operator’s Second-In-Command training
program. The planned flight was expected to go to Lanai Airport (PHNY), Lanai City, Hawaii, to
perform flight maneuvers as well as practice instrument approach procedures. The operator
reported that about 80 gallons of fuel was added to each wing tank just prior to departure.
According to archived air traffic control communications, the airplane was cleared to depart
runway 4L and was expected to follow the published Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Shoreline Six
departure. The procedure called for departing traffic to fly runway heading, then turn right.
A preliminary review of archived voice communication information from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) revealed that shortly after departure, the Honolulu tower controller
contacted the airplane and asked to confirm if they were turning right. The instructor pilot
responded by saying: “we are…we have…we are out of control here.”
The accident airplane was equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–
B), which provides position information via satellite navigation or other sensors and
periodically broadcasts it, enabling the airplane to be tracked. The accident airplane was also
equipped was Spidertracks, which enabled real-time flight tracking, automated flight watch,
two-way communication, and flight data monitoring (FDM) for the airplane. According to the
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ADS-B data and Spidertracks data, the airplane departed runway 4L, and near the departure
end of the runway the airplane immediately began a left turn.
As the airplane continued a shallow climbing left turn, it eventually passed over an industrial
area to the northeast of PHNL. As the flight progressed on a north-northeasterly heading, the
left turn continued, and the airplane turned to a south westerly heading. The airplane’s left turn
continued to steepen, and it eventually descended nose down into the industrial area just north
of PHNL. See figure. 1
Figure 1. Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS– B) overlay, which depicts N689KA’s departure
from Runway 4L.
The airplane subsequently impacted an abandoned concrete building about 1,975 ft from the
departure end of the runway. The left wing made initial contact with one of the large air
conditioner units on the roof. The airplane then struck a concrete stairwell structure located on
the roof of the abandoned building, then it continued into an adjacent parking lot to the south
of the building. A postcrash fire ensued, which incinerated much of the wreckage.
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The main wreckage came to rest about 120 feet beyond the initial impact point.
The airplane’s empennage was separated during the impact sequence, and it was located in
the upper portion of the stairwell structure near the roof of the building. Outboard portions of
the airplane’s left wing were found on the roof of the building, near the initial impact point. The
fuselage, and both wings were located in the parking lot to the south of the building.
The flight control system exhibited multiple breaks of the control cables due to impact and fire
related damage. Sections of the flight control system were retained for further examination.
The right wing was impact separated and located in a ditch about 100 ft from the main
wreckage. The majority of the left wing was found in the main wreckage, underneath an aft
section of the fuselage. The left flap was not observed in the main wreckage and was likely
consumed in the post impact fire. The left wing was separated from the fuselage.
The engine core of the Pratt and Whittney PT6 turbine engine was found in the main wreckage
site in front of the cockpit. The Aircraft Data Acquisition System (ADAS), which monitors, and
auto-archives critical flight parameters was found in the area of the cockpit wreckage.
However, the ADAS housing was breached and its circuit cards exhibited thermal damage. The
ADAS housing was retained for further examination. One propeller blade was found in the
stairwell structure the airplane impacted. The two remaining propeller blades were found in the
main wreckage. The propeller hub was fractured in multiple locations and was found near the
right wing.
The instructor pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for Airplane Single Engine
Land (ASEL), Airplane Multiengine Land (AMEL), and Instrument airplane. In addition, he was a
certificated flight instructor for single engine airplanes. Furthermore, he reported 1746 total
hours of civilian flight experience and 376 hours in the last six months as of his last medical
exam, which was performed on December 12, 2024. The pilot was issued a First-Class medical
certificate without limitations.
The pilot receiving instruction held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for Airplane
Single Engine Land (ASEL) and Instrument airplane. Furthermore, he did not report his civilian
flight experience as of his last medical exam, which was performed on August 8, 2024,
however the operator reported his civilian flight experience to be about 340 hours total. The
pilot was issued a First-Class medical certificate without limitations.
The accident sequence was captured by numerous security cameras, vehicle dash-mounted
cameras, and other video recording devices. The various recordings were subsequently
provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative team. The various
recorded video footage captured the airplane departing runway 4L and beginning a shallow left
turn which appeared to steepen significantly prior to impact.
The archived video recordings were sent the NTSB’s vehicle recorders laboratory in
Washington D.C., and a detailed NTSB video study is pending.
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Two investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Alaska Regional
Office, along with a senior aerospace engineer from Washington D.C., responded to the
accident site and examined the airplane wreckage on December 18-22. During the detailed on-
scene examination, the investigative team retained various components for additional
examination and testing, and results are pending.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N689KA
Model/Series: 208B Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: Kamaka Air, LLC Operating Certificate(s) Commuter air carrier (135),
Held: On-demand air taxi (135)
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PHNL,6 ft msl Observation Time: 15:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C /20°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3000 ft AGL Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 220°
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Departure Point: Honolulu , HI (PHNL) Destination: Lanai, HI (PHNY)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal Latitude, Longitude: 21.329519,-157.91751 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Joyce, Stacia
Additional Participating Persons: Ernie Hall; Cessna; Witchita, KS
Ben De Peralta; FAA; Honolulu, HI
Heidi Kemner; FAA; Washington , DC
Mike Hodge; Pratt & Whitney; Bridgeport, WV
Investigation Class: Class 3
Note:
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