15 December 2022

N13GZ Crashes Off Maui

Hawaii Life Flight's King Air C90, N13GZ (msn LJ-1590), crashed in the Alenuihaha Channel that runs between Maui and Hawai‘i Island. The King Air departed OGG just after 20:50HAST with three aboard, en route to MUE to pickup a patient. FlightRadar24 playback shows that N13GZ climbed to over 13,000' as made its way around the coastline off Hāna, then descend to a last known altitude of 8,000' off the coastline near Kaupo. FlightRadar24's playback also did not identify the tail number, nor the route.

A George's Aviation Piper PA-44 Seminole, N128AR (msn 44-96218) was in the vicinity of the King Air, and witnessed it going in the water. A US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey from the VMM-363 Lucky Red Lions, flying as LUCKY41, flew down and orbited the area until US Coast Guard assets arrived on scene. HC-130J 2007 and MH-65D 5648 scrambled out of JRF to the accident area.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the three aboard, their families, co-workers, and the USCG.

The above photo was taken in January 2021, as N13GZ taxied back to their ramp after an engine run-up.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now report, and this KITV report.

No comments: