Bombardier DHC-8-103 N979HA

Summary

On 1 February 2007 at about 01:40 local time, a Bombardier DHC-8-103 registered N979HA, operated by Hawaii Island Air, was involved in an accident near Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States. 6 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 February 2007 at 01:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

21.1503, -157.0967

Aircraft

Bombardier DHC-8-103

Registration

N979HA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Hawaii Island Air

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Honolulu → Kahului

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07CA077

1 person was seriously injured.

an in-flight encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury to a deadheading crewmember.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane encountered severe turbulence during an en route descent and a captain who was deadheading was not secured in his seat and received serious injuries. The airplane was being positioned to another airport, and had a deadheading flight crew on board. Prior to the descent, the captain noted an airspeed anomaly for the existing power setting. He also observed that the flap indicator showed a "slight" deployment of the flaps. He requested that the deadheading captain look out a cabin window, and verify the flap position. The deadheading captain reported to the flying captain that the flaps were in the fully retracted position. About this time, ATC personnel requested that a descent be initiated, which the flight crew initiated by reducing the power to slow down the airplane. As the deadheading captain was making his way back to his cabin seat, the airplane encountered severe turbulence, which lasted about 5 to 10 seconds. He was thrown about the cabin and injured. The flying captain declared an emergency. The flight landed without incident, and taxied to the gate where the injured crewmember was transported to the hospital. A review was conducted of the ATC air-ground recordings between Maui approach control (APCON), two other airplanes flying in the area, and the accident airplane (Moku 979). Prior to Moku 979 checking in with Maui approach, the two other airplanes reported moderate turbulence at 4,000 feet, and moderate to occasional severe turbulence between 2,000 and 2,500 feet. Both airplanes were about 15 miles east of Maui, in the general vicinity of the accident airplane. The controller contacted FSS, and advised them of the PIREP's. About 75 seconds later, Moku 979 reported in to the approach control. The controller told them to "expect lower in 5 miles." The controller did not advise Moku 979 of the reported turbulence in the area. Ninety-five seconds later the controller instructed Moku 979 to begin a descent to 1,500 feet. Fifteen seconds later Moku 979 declared an emergency and reported the injury.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.