Tragedy in Paradise: Lessons from a King Air Crash in Hawaii

On a warm summer evening in Hawaii, a skydiving flight lifted off from Dillingham Airfield, carrying ten passengers eager for the thrill of freefall. Moments later, that same aircraft—a Beech King Air 65-A90—rolled sharply left, inverted, and plummeted to the ground in a fiery crash. The accident, which claimed the lives of all onboard, sent shockwaves through the aviation and skydiving communities.

The NTSB’s investigation into this tragic June 21, 2019, accident uncovered troubling issues with pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and operational oversight. Today, we break down what happened, why it happened, and what lessons can be learned to prevent future tragedies.

A Flight Destined for Disaster

The Oahu Parachute Center (OPC) had a busy afternoon planned, with multiple skydiving flights scheduled from Dillingham Airfield. The accident occurred on the fourth flight of the day, commonly known as one of the “sunset jumps.”

The pilot, a 42-year-old commercial certificate holder, had flown for OPC since March 2019. His logbook recorded about 1,086 total flight hours, including 214 hours in the King Air. However, his training history raised red flags—he had previously failed three check rides and had limited experience flying turbine aircraft before joining OPC.

The aircraft, a Beech King Air 65-A90, was originally built in 1967 and had been involved in a prior accident in 2016 when it entered an unintended spin during a climb near Byron, California. Though repaired, investigators later found that the aircraft had persistent structural and maintenance issues that would come under scrutiny after the Mokuleia crash.

A Witnessed Catastrophe

Just after 6:22 PM, the King Air departed Runway 8. Multiple witnesses described the aircraft banking aggressively left immediately after takeoff—some said it appeared as though the pilot was “showing off.” Within seconds, the aircraft rolled completely upside down, then plunged nose-first into the ground.

Security camera footage confirmed that, at the moment of impact, the airplane was inverted in a 45-degree nose-down attitude. A massive fireball erupted, consuming most of the wreckage.

Sadly, there were no survivors. The crash was the deadliest civilian aviation accident in the United States in 2019.

Investigation Findings: A Perfect Storm of Issues

1. Pilot Experience and Takeoff Technique

Interviews with other OPC personnel revealed that the pilot had developed a habit of executing steep, aggressive turns during takeoff, possibly to give passengers a “thrill ride.” A pilot from another skydiving company at Dillingham stated that, in the weeks leading up to the accident, the OPC pilot’s departures had become increasingly reckless.

On the flight immediately before the crash, multiple parachutists onboard reported that the pilot performed an unusually steep left turn after takeoff—one skydiver described it as “spicy for my liking.”

The NTSB determined that this high-bank, high-pitch takeoff technique likely contributed to the loss of control, exacerbated by the aircraft’s pre-existing handling issues.

2. Aircraft’s Troubled History

The King Air had a history of structural problems. During the 2016 accident in California, the aircraft spun out of control, requiring a violent recovery. In the process, the right horizontal stabilizer detached midair, forcing an emergency landing.

Post-accident repairs included replacing the stabilizer with one from a different aircraft model, a modification that was never officially documented or approved by the FAA.

Additionally, photos of the airplane before the 2019 crash showed wrinkles in the upper left wing skin, indicative of prior structural damage. Investigators found that the aircraft required full left aileron trim just to fly straight, an alarming sign of an asymmetric wing condition.

Despite these issues, OPC continued operating the aircraft without addressing its inherent flight control anomalies.

3. Lax Maintenance and Regulatory Oversight

Maintenance records painted a disturbing picture. The contract mechanic responsible for OPC’s aircraft had previously lost his FAA certifications due to falsified maintenance records. Though he regained his license, his work on the King Air was riddled with inconsistencies and missing documentation.

Examples of serious maintenance failures included:

• Improperly repaired wing damage from the 2016 spin accident
• Unaddressed flight control anomalies, requiring excessive aileron trim
• Overdue structural inspections, including a critical Airworthiness Directive check

The FAA’s oversight of OPC was minimal, as Part 91 parachute operations are not subject to the same regulations as commercial airlines.

4. No Weight and Balance Calculations

Despite carrying a full load of passengers, OPC pilots did not perform weight and balance calculations for each flight. Instead, they relied on a generic formula that failed to account for critical factors, such as:

• The weight of parachute gear (which could exceed 50 lbs per tandem system)
• The distribution of passengers within the aircraft
• The effects of takeoff maneuvers on CG shifts

The NTSB found that the aircraft’s center of gravity (CG) was likely within limits, but the combination of aggressive takeoff maneuvers and existing flight control issues made the aircraft extremely unstable.

5. Impairment Concerns

Toxicology reports on the pilot were negative for drugs and alcohol, but tests revealed elevated THC levels in one camera operator and a tandem instructor. While there was no indication this played a role in the crash, it raised concerns about drug use among parachute operators and the lack of mandatory drug testing in Part 91 operations.

Final Probable Cause

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident was:

The pilot’s aggressive takeoff maneuver, which led to a loss of control.

Contributing factors included:

• The airplane’s degraded handling characteristics
• Insufficient FAA oversight of skydiving operations
• Inadequate maintenance practices

The agency issued multiple safety recommendations, including stronger oversight of Part 91 revenue flights, mandatory safety management systems for parachute operators, and improved pilot training standards.

Lessons Learned: Preventing Future Tragedies

This accident underscores critical lessons for pilots, operators, and regulators:

✈️ Aggressive maneuvering is not worth the risk – Skydiving flights are not aerobatic flights. Passenger thrill should never come at the expense of safe aircraft handling.

🔧 Proper aircraft maintenance is non-negotiable – Ignoring structural damage and flight control issues can have catastrophic consequences.

📏 Weight and balance matter on every flight – Even small CG shifts can drastically affect aircraft control, especially in high-performance maneuvers.

🛑 FAA oversight must improve – Part 91 skydiving operators lack the regulatory scrutiny of commercial carriers, despite carrying paying passengers.

Final Thoughts

The Mokuleia King Air crash was a preventable tragedy. By learning from this accident, the aviation and skydiving communities can work toward a safer future, ensuring that those who take to the skies for adventure return safely to the ground.