Accident Sequence
During an air tour flight, the pilot radioed his intentions to Flight Service Station (FSS) to overfly an area approximately 5 miles southwest of Maui. About 10 minutes later, the airplane impacted mountainous terrain on the island. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time and location of the accident. All nine occupants were killed.
Pilot Qualifications
The pilot did not possess the minimum flight hours stipulated in the company operations manual to qualify as a captain. He falsified his employment application and resume to obtain the position.
Company Practices
Scenic Air Tours, the operator, did not pursue substantive pre-employment background checks on the pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not require such checks for air tour operators. The investigation noted that regulations are needed to enable FAA inspectors to require, rather than merely encourage, operators to adhere to procedures offering safety improvements similar to SFAR 50-2 and FAA Handbook 8400.10 Bulletin 92-01.
Investigation Findings
The probable cause of the accident was the captain's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions that obscured rising mountainous terrain and his failure to properly use available navigational information to remain clear of the island of Maui. Contributing to the accident was the failure of Scenic Air Tours to conduct substantive pilot pre-employment background screening, and the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration to require commercial operators to conduct substantive pilot pre-employment screening.