B190, vicinity Lihue Hawaii, 2008
B190, vicinity Lihue Hawaii, 2008
Summary
On 14 January 2008, a single pilot Beech 1900C on a non scheduled mail flight which had departed from Honolulu disappeared during a visual dark night approach at its destination. The Investigation concluded that the pilot had become spatially disoriented and lost control of the aircraft.
Flight Details
Aircraft
Operator
Type of Flight
Public Transport (Cargo)
Flight Origin
Intended Destination
Take-off Commenced
Yes
Flight Airborne
Yes
Flight Completed
No
Phase of Flight
Descent
Location
Location - Airport
Airport
HF
Tag(s)
Distraction,
Manual Handling,
Spatial Disorientation
Outcome
Damage or injury
Yes
Aircraft damage
Hull loss
Non-aircraft damage
Yes
Non-occupant Casualties
No
Occupant Injuries
Most or all occupants
Off Airport Landing
Yes
Ditching
Yes
Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)
None Made
Investigation Type
Type
Independent
Description
On 14 January 2008, a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation 1900C being operated by Alpine Air on a non-scheduled mail flight from Honolulu to Lihue on the island of Kauai as AP 253 and on an IFR flight plan in night VMC disappeared from radar on final approach to destination shortly after a related MSAW alert had been annunciated. The aircraft was subsequently found to have crashed.
Investigation
The NTSB carried out an investigation, It was found that during descent to 2000 feet QNH at pilot's discretion, the controller had advised that other traffic would be overtaking him and that he should expect a visual approach at Lihue number 2 to the other aircraft. The flight was then transferred to advisory frequency and was subsequently lost from radar about 6.5 miles south-southeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot presumed killed. It was concluded that the 38 year-old pilot had become spatially disoriented and had lost control of the aircraft.
The formal determination of Probable Cause was "the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness.
Two Contributory Factors were also identified:
- the dark night conditions
- the task requirements of simultaneously monitoring the cockpit instruments and the (position of the) other airplane.
The Final Report of the Investigation was adopted on 6 May 2009.
