An 80-year-old retired airline pilot died Saturday after he drove his pickup truck down a Puna boat ramp and into the water.

Stuart H. Jones of Keaau was a commercial airline pilot who had worked for Japan Air Lines, the now-defunct TransOcean Airlines and Air Resorts, a cargo carrier.

Before retiring at age 63, Jones was a corporate pilot with Kaiser Industries and flew Henry J. Kaiser around, said his widow, Elva. He also worked as a government licensed air dispatcher.

Jones, born in Oakland, Calif., moved with his wife from San Diego to Keaau about 10 years ago.

Just what happened remains a mystery. Police told Jones’ wife there was no blunt trauma to the body.

"It’s a straight shot down the road to the ramp, as far as I understand it," Elva Jones said. "The road turns and he didn’t make the turn."

She said he may have had a heart attack or may have gotten lost when he drove into the water at the Pohoiki Boat Ramp.

Bystanders pulled Jones out of his Mazda pickup and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until police and fire personnel arrived. He was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy is scheduled.