Wreckage from Maui Cessna crash to be inspected
WAILUKU » A National Transportation Safety Board investigator said she hopes the wreckage of a single-engine airplane on a mountain slope in Hana will be transported to Kahului Airport today for inspection.
Kristi Dunks, investigator in charge, said yesterday that inspectors will be looking at the flight controls, engine and other parts of the aircraft.
A pilot believed to be a 56-year-old Salt Lake City man was found dead after the airplane crashed in a forest reserve at the 2,400-foot level mauka of the Hana Airport.
The man had rented a four-seat Cessna 172SP from Maui Aviators Flight School.
County firefighters and police received a call about a fire at 3:49 p.m. Thursday and found the crashed airplane.
Dunks said her office is in the process of gathering maintenance and flight records from Maui Aviators and what the pilot was doing flying near the mountains.
"We're still trying to get a good idea of his route of flight," she said.
Maui police Lt. Glenn Cuomo said investigators hope to release the name of the man after obtaining records from the mainland that would positively identify the him.
Police detectives said a preliminary examination found no evidence of foul play.
In addition to its flight school, Maui Aviators rents several airplanes, according to its Web site.
Maui Aviators was unavailable for comment.