Incident Overview
A reindoctrination/training flight for the second-in-command ended when the aircraft collided with the ocean off Waimanalo. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying offshore parallel to the cliffs at an altitude of approximately 500 feet over the water. The aircraft then banked left and subsequently right, reaching a 90° right wing low attitude in a wing-over type maneuver, before descending into the water.
Search and Recovery
The aircraft was not recovered following the accident. All three occupants on board were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident as an in-flight collision with terrain/water during the maneuvering phase of operation. A contributing finding was the improper use of flight controls by the pilot in command.