Accident Details
On September 24 and 25, the owner of a tailwheel aircraft and an instructor had planned to fly the time needed for the owner to accumulate approximately 15 more hours to fly solo without an instructor. Maui tower controllers reported that the aircraft, identified as N8656V, departed to the southeast toward Haiku or Makawao, Hawaii, areas near where the owner lived.
At 1623 Hawaii Standard Time, Maui tower advised N8656V that radar contact was lost due to the aircraft's location near Haleakala. The aircraft responded with "Roger."
Witness Accounts
Approximately seven minutes later, at about 1630, three known witnesses saw or heard the aircraft before it crashed. One witness observed the aircraft flying over rising terrain at low altitude and then turning left. The witness reported that as the aircraft turned toward a downhill heading, it suddenly nose dived. The aircraft crashed in a steep descent and burned.
Environmental and Wreckage Examination
The crash site elevation was 3,200 feet above mean sea level, and the temperature was 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Strong trade winds were reported in the vicinity of the accident. An examination of the wreckage revealed no precrash malfunction or failure.