What happened
During a flight traveling from Honolulu toward Lanai, a twin engine airplane encountered intense meteorological activity while cruising near the coastline. As the aircraft moved through an area characterized by storms, the crew lost control of the plane. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ocean surface offshore, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe.
There were eight fatalities recorded in the accident, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the pilot maintained Visual Flight Rules (VFR) while entering hazardous weather environments. The following contributing factors were noted:
- Presence of heavy rain and thunderstorm activity
- Low cloud ceilings
- The decision to fly into known thunderstorm cells