Zone
Hawaii

Crash of an Airspeed AS.6A Envoy into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1934 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.6 Envoy
Operator:
Charles T. P. Ulm
Registration:
VH-UXY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Vancouver – San Francisco – Oakland – Honolulu – Melbourne
MSN:
31
YOM:
1935
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was attempting a new record over the Pacific Ocean on a flight from Vancouver to Melbourne with intermediate stops in San Francisco, Oakland and Honolulu. En route to Hawaii, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility, he was unable to localize the islands and sent several radio messages advising he was lost and running out of fuel. The aircraft named 'Stella Australis' eventually crashed into the ocean around 1000LT. Despite an extensive and immediate search by aircraft and 23 naval ships, no trace of the Envoy nor the crew was ever found. Captain Ulm had chosen not to carry a life raft on board, preferring to save weight and predicting the aircraft would float for two days if it were forced to land on water.
Crew:
Charles T. P. Ulm, pilot,
G. M. Littlejohn, copilot,
J. S. Skilling, radio navigator.
Probable cause:
It is believed an unexpected tailwind and bad weather caused the aircraft to fly past the islands in the dark (early morning). The wind was about 35 knots from the south-southeast and the aircraft may also have been pushed north of the islands.

Crash of a Keystone LB-5A off Koko Head

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-5
Operator:
Registration:
30-338
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honolulu - Honolulu
Location:
Honolulu
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:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 5 miles off Koko Head, near Honolulu. All five crew members survived while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Keystone LB-5A off Honolulu

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-5
Operator:
Registration:
30-342
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Honolulu
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:
0
Circumstances:
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:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Honolulu – Laie
Location:
Laie
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
10
YOM:
1927
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
1
YOM:
1927
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A off Honolulu

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
AS-23190
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luke AFB - Luke AFB
Location:
Honolulu
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:
Crashed in the Kewalo Basin off Honolulu. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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