Accident Details
While approaching Kahului Airport at night under visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot became disoriented and was unable to locate the airport. The aircraft flew past its destination over dark, unlighted terrain. The twin-engine airplane subsequently struck a hill and crashed in flames. The pilot was killed in the accident.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the ceiling was approximately 2,000 feet, and rain showers were present. The darkness and weather may have contributed to the pilot's difficulty in locating the airport, though the investigation did not explicitly state this as a causal factor.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was that the pilot got disoriented and was unable to locate the airport until the airplane struck the ground.