Hilo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Saturday, January 5, 1991 15:45 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SEVERAL GROUND WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT INITIATED A STEEP CLIMB AFTER LIFTOFF, THEN SEEMED TO ROLL INTO A STEEP RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT MIDFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO STALL AND ABRUPTLY ROLL TO THE LEFT OVER THE TOP INTO A SPIN ENTRY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO INITIATE A RECOVERY FROM THE SPIN BUT DID NOT REGAIN LEVEL FLIGHT PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND IN AN AIRPORT RAMP AREA. THE HILO ATCT SAID THE PILOT REQUESTED A RIGHT TURN OUT ON DEPARTURE TO PROCEED TO THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE HONOLULU FSDO. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT STEEP AND ABRUPT MANEUVERS DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB PHASE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City HILO
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96720
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HILO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ITO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 38
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 54 GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID ITO
Elevation of weather observation facility 38
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation GMT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 140
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43152
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N996MP
NTSB Number LAX91LA069
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 272
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES N. BURDEAUX
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 121 LAHAINA STREET
Operator City HILO
Operator State HI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96720
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1541
Departure Time Zone HST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 5600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --