NTSB Factual Report

On December 10, 2017, about 1105 Hawaiian standard time, a wheel-equipped Textron Aviation (formerly Cessna) U206G airplane, N732DF, impacted remote hills in Maunaloa, Hawaii about 4 miles southwest of the Molokai Airport, Kaunakakai, Hawaii while performing an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach. The instrument-rated private pilot and sole passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight that transitioned to an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the Molokai Airport at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1030.

In a conversation on December 12, the Molokai Police Department reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the purpose of the personal flight was for travel from the island of Oahu, to the island of Molokai in Hawaii. After departing from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the pilot flew VFR as he traveled to the west side of Molokai, where he transitioned to IFR in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Honolulu Center Radar Approach Control Center (ZHN) for the VOR-A (very high frequency omni directional radio range) circling instrument approach to runway 5 at the Molokai Airport with an IFR clearance. The Molokai Airport tower air traffic controller reported to the pilot that the airport was IFR and the pilot responded that he had received the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) "juliet."

While conducting the circling instrument approach, the air traffic controller observed the airplane south of course at a 6-mile final and advised the pilot of this status. The pilot responded that he was correcting, but was maneuvering to remain clear of clouds. The airplane then disappeared from the radar display system and the air control controller transmitted to the pilot with no response. ZHN was notified within 3 minutes of losing contact with the airplane and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued approximately 15 minutes later. The air traffic controller notified local first responders on Molokai. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received by U.S. Air Force or U.S. Coast Guard assets.

The Molokai Fire Department arrived at the accident site at 1213 and the Molokai Police Department arrived at the accident site at 1230. The accident site was located in remote hills on the Molokai Ranch, Maunaloa. The airplane's wreckage was found on the western side of a hill that crested about 100 feet, with about a 50-degree incline, and was populated with low growth vegetation. The wreckage was subsequently incinerated by a postimpact fire.

On December 13, the NTSB IIC, two aviation safety inspectors from the FAA Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, an air safety investigator from Textron Aviation, and the Molokai Police Department traveled to the accident site utilizing off road vehicles. The wreckage is pending recovery and transportation to a secure facility for future examination of the airframe and engine.

The closest official weather observation station is located at the Molokai Airport, about 4 miles northeast of the accident site. At 1103, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, and stated in part: Wind 030 degrees (true) at 8 knots; visibility 6 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet and broken clouds at 1,700 feet; temperature 72 degrees F; dew point 70 degrees F; altimeter 30.04 inHg.