Firefighters plan to return today to the scene of a fatal airplane crash near Kaau Crater above Maunalani Heights to recover the remains of at least one person.

Firefighters suspended the rescue mission yesterday at dusk after a firefighter dropped off by helicopter near the scene could not find any signs of life, said Honolulu fire Capt. Robert Main.

At least one person died in the crash that also destroyed the single-engine Piper Cherokee plane, said Ian Gregor, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, in a statement.

Fire and federal officials did not know how many people were aboard the airplane when it crashed shortly before 2 p.m.

  Search for suvivors continues after airplane crashes

 

Rescue officials located the downed single engine Piper airplane around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

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Main said the firefighter taken up by helicopter took photos, but he did not have a description of the site or how many passengers could be seen.

Main said the plane crashed at about the 1,900-foot elevation, a few hundred feet below the ridgeline.

Hikers reported the plane slammed into the mountain in foggy and overcast weather.

David Watanabe of Honolulu was more than halfway up the Wiliwilinui Trail above Waialae Iki when he was surprised to see the plane flying at eye level.

“;It started veering right toward the mountain,”; he said. “;I guess some of the clouds (were) covering the top of the peaks, and after that we saw the plane hit right into the side of the mountain.”;

Tim Lee, who was hiking with Watanabe, saw the plane burst into flames against the mountain, followed by about half a dozen “;pops and small explosions”; and gray smoke rising.

“;We thought it was kind of weird that it was going toward the mountains,”; Lee said.

Watanabe said the plane didn't sound like it was in distress, and Lee heard the plane rev its engine as if it was trying to go over the mountain.

The plane, which was coming from the south shore, crashed about two ridges Ewa of the hikers.

Lee said they called police and headed down as the rain and fog started coming in.

Gregor said the plane was en route from Lanai to Honolulu when air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact at about 1:45 p.m. He said the pilot did not issue a mayday call.

Police believe the pilot was Nicholas Palumbo of Saint Louis Heights, who is the owner, according to the FAA registration number.

A man at Palumbo's address said the plane belonged to his father but would not say how many people were on board.

“;(We're) still trying to determine what's going on,”; he said.