Accident · 2019-12-26
What the record says
- Event date
- 2019-12-26
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Fatal injury
- Aircraft
- AIRBUS AS350B2 (N985SA)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- Safari Aviation, Inc. Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Safari Aviation Inc.
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in the collision into terrain. Contributing to the accident was Safari Aviation Inc.’s lack of safety management processes to identify hazards and mitigate the risks associated with factors that influence pilots to continue VFR flight into IMC. Also contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s delayed implementation of a Hawaii aviation weather camera program, its lack of leadership in the development of a cue-based weather training program for Hawaii air tour pilots, and its ineffective monitoring and oversight of Hawaii air tour operators’ weather-related operating practices.
Source: NTSB case ANC20MA010Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Commercial | None | 69 | Class 2 (2019-07-17) | 15,718 total · 5,814.2 in this make/model · 15,714 as PIC · 126.4 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.