The Los Angeles Times reported in January 2012 that Hawaii had nearly 7.3 million visitors in 2011 and those numbers were expected to increase in 2012. Tourists have long been attracted to Hawaii’s beautiful natural landscapes, flowing waterfalls and volcanoes. Given the relative inaccessibility of much of Hawaii's beauty, aircraft travel is a common mode of tourist transportation, often via small private planes. Another popular way of experiencing its breathtaking views is by helicopter tour.

The question is how safe is all this air travel over the Hawaiian Islands? While accidents can always occur in aviation, many Hawaiian accidents are the result of avoidable errors or poor pilot judgment, as demonstrated by some of the following reported accidents.

In November 2011, a Blue Hawaiian helicopter crashed into a mountain while on a 45-minute tour of West Hawaii, killing the pilot and four tourists. According to an expert senior meteorologist at accuweather.com, the Big Island’s steep cliffs on the west coast combined with trade winds can cause sudden gusts that could be dangerous for small aircraft.

In January 2010, a veterinarian flying to his clinic in his single engine Piper crashed near the Koolau Mountains in East Oahu. The exact cause of the accident is unknown, but visibility may have been a factor as the weather was overcast.

MSNBC related that back in July 2000, seven people died when a Blue Hawaiian helicopter crashed on Maui. The National Transportation Safety Board held the pilot at fault for failing to maintain enough altitude over the terrain and low-lying clouds.

We are dedicated to providing skillful legal representation to aircraft accident victims and their families in Hawaii. We use our knowledge of the Islands and the local tourism industry to benefit our clients who have been injured in aviation accidents, and assist them in receiving compensation for their losses.

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