On October 31, 1989, a Beech 77 (registration N3731X) operated by Great Bend Air, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Kalihi, HI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft conducting a morning traffic watch along a highway east of Honolulu crashed near a tunnel. Impact occurred below a ridge at 2,000 ft elevation. No preimpact mechanical problems were found.
Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting a morning traffic watch flight along a highway in mountainous terrain just east of Honolulu. The mountain tops were obscured by clouds at the time. The next traffic report was scheduled to be delivered from the other side of a ridge, through which the highway passed via a tunnel.
Crash Location and Impact
Subsequently, the aircraft crashed approximately half a mile west of the south entrance of the tunnel. The impact occurred below a ridge at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. This location was above the lowest elevation of a pass that crossed the ridge near that point. Ground scars at the crash site indicated that the aircraft struck the ground with its wings level.
Mechanical Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical problem. The aircraft appeared to be functioning normally prior to the collision with terrain.