NTSB cites bad weather
in Molokai plane crash
The National Transportation Safety Board released a factual report on a small plane crash that claimed the life of a 17-year-old Oahu boy last year.
A weather briefing indicated conditions were expected to improve as Chezray Hayes flew the single-engine Cessna toward Maui, the report released Friday said.
However, two military helicopter pilots reported rain and clouds over Cape Halawa on Molokai, which the plane was approaching when it crashed Jan. 25, 2003, the NTSB said.
After hearing a traffic advisory indicating the plane was flying at 1,000 feet near the Kalaupapa peninsula, one helicopter pilot reported thinking the aircraft was going to encounter some bad weather, the agency said.
It had been Hayes' first solo interisland flight.
Last month, Hayes' family sued the company that provided him with flying lessons and which helped him arrange the fatal flight.
In their lawsuit, Mitchell and Natalie Hayes contended George's Aviation Services, its owner George Hanzawa and employee Jennifer Oka encouraged Chezray Hayes to make the solo flight despite deteriorating weather conditions.
Hanzawa said he was "saddened and disappointed" to learn of the lawsuit.