1989 — June 11, Scenic Air Tours Beechcraft BE-H18 Crash, Waipio Valley, HI — 11

—  11  NTSB. SIR. Safety of the Air Tour Industry in the United States (NTSB/SIR-95/01).

—  11  Pacific Stars and Stripes (Tokyo). “Downed Plane Found; 11 Missing,” June 15, 1989,  2.

 

Narrative Information

 

NTSB: “On June 11, 1989, a Scenic Air Tours Beechcraft BE-H18 crashed in the Waipio Valley of the Kohala Mountains, Hawaii, killing all 11 occupants. The air tour flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as a nonscheduled air taxi flight, had departed Hilo International Airport, Hawaii, en route to Maui. The investigation revealed that the pilot had entered an enclosed canyon and ultimately proceeded beyond a point from which he could safely exit. The airplane collided with the canyon wall about 900 feet below the rim.

 

“The Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the following: “The pilot’s improper in-flight planning/decision to maneuver with insufficient altitude over or in a canyon area. Factors related to the accident were the terrain conditions and Scenic Air Tour’s lack of specific direction to its pilots concerning safety procedures for sightseeing flights.”

 

“As a result of the investigation, the Safety Board recommended that the FAA:

 

Amend the operations specifications of commercial sightseeing operators to include appropriate restrictions and/or limitations concerning flight routes and operations near canyons, volcanoes, and glaciers. (A-89-108)

 

Require the principal operations inspectors to encourage commercial sightseeing operators to place company policy, guidance, and cautions about particular sightseeing highlights in their operations manuals. (A-89-109)

 

In response to Safety Recommendations A-89-108 and -109, the FAA issued FAA Handbook 8400.10 Bulletin 92-01, “Air Tour/Sightseeing Operations,” on January 17, 1992….”  (NTSB/SIR-95/01).

 

June 15: “Waimea, Hawaii (UPI) — The scattered of a tour plane carrying a pilot and 10 tourists was found Tuesday in a foggy valley of the northeastern tip of Hawaii island. Authorities said there was no sign of survivors.  The Scenic Air Tours twin-engine Beechcraft C-18 was sighted by a Hawaii county fire department helicopter near an 1,800-foot-high waterfall in rugged, picturesque Waipio Valley shortly before 6 a.m., the Hilo Fire Department said.  [A] Marine Corps spokesman…in communication with a ground search team above the crash site, said debris from the shattered, orange plane was spread over 200 to 300 yards.  “There are no pieces large enough to identify as an aircraft,” …There was no sign of survivors….”  (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo Japan, June 15, 1989.)

 

Sources

 

National Transportation Safety Board. Special Investigation Report. Safety of the Air Tour Industry in the United States (NTSB/SIR-95/01). Washington, DC: NTSB, 1995, 60 pp. Accessed 6-21-2016 at: http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/special-investigation-reports/SIR95-01.pdf

 

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo Japan. “Downed Plane Found; 11 Missing.” June 15, 1989, p. 2.  Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133304297