What happened
An aircraft departed Honolulu under visual flight rules (VFR) at 00:32, intending to transport a patient to Hilo. While en route, the pilot was provided with weather updates for the destination, which indicated low visibility due to heavy rain and mist, with ceilings between 1,700 and 2,300 feet. Radar data tracked the aircraft crossing the northwestern coast of Hawaii at 01:22 while descending through 7,400 feet. The final recorded position showed the aircraft at 6,400 feet, approximately 26 miles from the crash site.
At 01:30, air traffic control notified the pilot that radar contact had been lost and that radar coverage would be unavailable at the current altitude for the inbound leg to Hilo. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft struck trees and terrain at an elevation of 3,600 feet on the Mauna Kea Volcano. A local witness observed an aircraft flying at approximately 500 feet above ground level near the time of the accident. The debris field spanned roughly 500 feet, with wreckage found both in tree branches and on the ground. There were no fatalities reported among the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage revealed no mechanical issues or engine failures that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally. However, the investigation noted that the operator's pilots frequently departed under VFR even when night conditions or poor weather were anticipated to avoid delays, seeking IFR clearances while already in flight. At the time of the accident, the actual weather conditions at the destination were below the minimum visibility and ceiling requirements specified in the company's operations manual for VFR flight.