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10 fatalities

Big Island Air Flight 58 Crashes on Mauna Loa (N411WL)

Volcano, HI, US

On September 26, 1999, a Piper PA-31-350 (registration N411WL) was involved in an aviation accident near Volcano, HI. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an area of cloud-covered mountainous terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

On September 25, 1999, Big Island Air flight 58, a Piper PA-31-350 (N411WL), crashed on the northeast slope of Mauna Loa near Volcano, Hawaii, killing the pilot and all nine passengers. The aircraft was destroyed.

Accident Overview

On September 25, 1999, at approximately 1726 Hawaiian standard time, Big Island Air flight 58, a Piper PA-31-350 (Chieftain) registered as N411WL, crashed on the northeast slope of the Mauna Loa volcano near Volcano, Hawaii. The pilot and all nine passengers aboard were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact fire. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi sightseeing tour.

Flight Details

The flight departed Keahole-Kona International Airport in Kona, Hawaii, at about 1622. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. At the time of departure, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) existed at the airport. However, the subsequent investigation determined that instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident, with the full report available as NTSB/AAB-01-02. No probable cause was stated in the provided summary.

Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 26 Sept 1999 Piper PA-31-350 accident near Volcano, HI?

On September 25, 1999, Big Island Air flight 58, a Piper PA-31-350 (N411WL), crashed on the northeast slope of Mauna Loa near Volcano, Hawaii, killing the pilot and all nine passengers. The aircraft was destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 26 Sept 1999 Piper PA-31-350 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 10 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Sept 1999 involved a Piper PA-31-350, registration N411WL, at Volcano, HI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an area of cloud-covered mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to properly navigate and his disregard for standard operating procedures, including flying into IMC while on a visual…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19727. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.