Honolulu | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in a training exercise off Oahu Island when an engine failed in flight. The pilot ditched the aircraft some 50 miles south of Honolulu. While all five occupants were rescued, the aircraft was sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Ryan Standard in Laie: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1927 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ryan Standard

Operator:

Lewis Air Transport

Registration:

NC2382

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Honolulu – Laie

Location:

Laie

Hawaii

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Laie on a flight from Ward Field in Ala Moana, Honolulu, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Buhl CA-5 Air Sedan in the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Buhl CA-5 AirSedan

Operator:

William F. Malloska

Registration:

NC2915

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakland - Honolulu

MSN:

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the 'Dole Race' prize between Oakland and Honolulu. Ten minutes after takeoff, the crew returned to Oakland due to technical problems. The second departure was performed without any problems few minutes later and has been approved. Named 'Miss Doran', the aircraft never arrived in Honolulu and was lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean. All efforts to find the aircraft and its crew were unsuccessful.
Crew:
Auggy Pedlar, pilot,
Vilas R. Knope, navigator.
Passenger:
Mrs. Mildred Doran.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 1 Vega

Operator:

Jack Frost

Registration:

NX913

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakland - Honolulu

MSN:

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the 'Dole Race' between Oakland and Honolulu. The aircraft departed Oakland Airport in the morning but never arrived at destination. It was lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft was named 'Golden Eagle'.
Crew:
Jack Frost, pilot,
Gordon Scott, navigator.

Crash of a Travel Air 5000 in Molokai

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Travel Air 5000

Operator:

Ernest L. Smith

Registration:

Spirit of Oakland

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oakland - Honolulu

MSN:

160

YOM:

1927

Location:

Molokai

Hawaii

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Both pilots Ernest L. Smith and Emory R. Bronte were engaged in one of the first transpacific nonstop flight from Oakland to Honolulu, taking part to the 'Dole Race' with a price of 25,000 US$. After a flight of 26 hours and 36 minutes, the crew was approaching the coast of Molokai when the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The crew made an emergency landing and was uninjured while the aircraft named 'Spirit of Oakland' was damaged beyond repair. As he did not reach Honolulu, the crew was disqualified and did not win the prize.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.