1988 Safety Study Clears Gondola - Supreme Court Agrees Mami Kumagai, became Hawaii's first parasailing fatality victim when she allegedly fell to her death in Honolulu Hawaii. At first glance, the media and the US coast Guard pointed to the Gondola as the cause which was later proven false by a Safety Study be performed by Failure Analysis Inc. aka (Exponent") under the direction of Dr. Robert Kadlec Ph.D.,P.E. His conclusions confirmed that the chair was 100% safe for its particular use and sufficiently secured parasailor(s) while in flight "even if unconscious" without the need for additional restraints. It also provided additional evidence that a safe evacuation could be achieved without constraints during a water landings. The jury agreed with Dr. Kadlec, and cleared both the parasailing company and Gondola manufacture of any liability. Hawaii Supreme Appeals Court also agreed with both the Jury verdict and the safety study reconfirming the chair was not the legal cause of Kumagai’s death and ruled in favor of the defendants. This case set a historical legal precedence for the Gondola’s safety on any future product liability cases against the Gondola. Sadly, after the case and appeals were over, a suicide note was recovered along with the sister confession that she assisted in the suicide.
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