Zone
Hawaii

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-65-LO Orion on Kauai Island: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1983 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152720
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
185-5160
YOM:
1965
Location:
Kauai Island
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Barbers Point NAS on a night training exercise consisting of a support of ships cruising off Kauai Island. While cruising in limited visibility at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found on a steep ridge (Kalepa Ridge between Honopu and Kalalau valleys) on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai. All 14 occupants were killed. The pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and did not see the mountain.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-65-LO Orion at Barbers Point NAS

Date & Time: May 17, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152733
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
185-5173
YOM:
1966
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed on its belly at Barbers Point NAS. It slid for few dozen yards then veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-100-LO Orion at Barbers Point NAS

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
154591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
185-5272
YOM:
1968
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane made a wheels up landing at Barbers Point NAS. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune off Barbers Point NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
128418
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
426-5264
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie out from NAS Barbers Point. On final approach, the airplane lost height and crashed into the sea about 1,1 mile short of runway. The aircraft was lost and all ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune near Barbers Point NAS: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1954 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
124874
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Barbers Point
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Barbers Point NAS, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around for unknown reason. He completed a turn to the left when the airplane hit the slope of Mt Pu'u Kaua (3,127 feet high) located northwest of the Naval Air Station. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Walter J. Hanzo Jr., pilot,
Ens Gerald Martin Hazlett, copilot,
Ens Wilbur D. Cooper,
Adc John Robert Staples,
Ad2 Joseph Daniel Beczek,
Am2 Paul Martin Kohler,
At2 Joseph Michael Maksymon,
At3 Richard Knuton Brown.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to follow the published procedure while turning to the left during an attempt to go around instead of turning to the right over the ocean to avoid any obstacle. A reduced visibility caused by night remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune off Barbers Point NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
39340
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
126-1040
YOM:
1947
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While completing a local training sortie from Barbers Point NAS, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the ocean few miles off shore. It was reported that the loss of control occurred when the right wing failed in flight for unknown reasons. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 off Midway Island

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
87755
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Barbers Point
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ditched due to fuel exhaustion caused by a faulty navigation near Midway Island enroute from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, Japan, to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii. All crew members were rescued by a Navy ship while the plane sank by gunfire.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress at Hickam AFB: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1948 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-24641
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barbers Point – Kwajalein – Kadena
MSN:
4302
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hickam AFB
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
20
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Barbers Point NAS, bound for Kadena via Kwajalein, the pilot informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return. ATC guided the crew to Hickam Field in Honolulu and eight minutes later, while on approach, the airplane overshot so the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames and skidded for about 600 yards before coming to rest in flames. Sixteen crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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