WAILUKU >> A National Transportation Safety Board investigator said the emergency locator transmitter appeared to be extensively damaged in a single-engine airplane that crashed in northeast Molokai, killing a student pilot from Oahu. Crash may have
muted distress beaconBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comNicole Charnon said yesterday that she has not determined the specific cause of why the transmitter on the Cessna 172 failed to emit a distress signal after the crash. But she said damage to the transmitter system included a burned battery casing and a broken antenna.
Chezray Hayes, 17, of Mililani, whose body was found near the crash site, left Honolulu at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 25 en route to Kahului, authorities said.
Charnon said she has completed her evaluation of the wreckage and may be filing a report about the crash by mid- to late April. She said she has not found anything that "raises suspicion" toward engine or structural problems.
Charnon said fire destroyed the cockpit, preventing her from obtaining instrument readings.
She said she is awaiting a package of information, including the student's flight plan, separate weather briefings to the student and flight instructor, air traffic communications and other weather-related information.
Four loads of wreckage were taken off the west side of Manuahi Ridge near Pelekunu Valley on Saturday, she said.
A memorial service was scheduled to take place at 3:30 p.m. today at St. John Apostle & Evangelist Church on Oahu, followed by visitation at 5 p.m. and a memorial service at 6:30 p.m. Casual attire is requested and the family requests no flowers.