What happened
While conducting an air tour, the pilot communicated intentions to the Flight Service Station (FSS) to fly over a region situated roughly five miles southwest of Maui. About ten minutes following this radio transmission, the aircraft type struck mountainous terrain on the island. At the time of the impact, the area was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
All nine fatalities occurred during the accident.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the pilot lacked the necessary flight hours required by the company's operations manual to serve as a captain. It was determined that the pilot had provided false information on both his resume and employment application. Furthermore, the operator failed to conduct thorough background checks on the pilot prior to hiring, a practice that was not strictly mandated by the FAA at the time.
The pilot's lack of required experience and the falsification of employment records were central to the findings. The incident highlighted a need for more stringent regulatory oversight regarding air tour operators to ensure compliance with safety procedures and established bulletins.