CAPTAIN COOK >> The National Transportation Safety Board says a micro-light aircraft crash off the Big Island last year was likely caused by pilot error.

Pilot Tedd Hecklin and passenger Katie Moran were killed in the April 21, 2010 crash.

The aircraft sank in Kealakekua Bay and was not recovered.

Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Thursday the NTSB determined the crash was likely caused by “the pilot’s intentional in-flight maneuvers that exceeded the structural limit of the aircraft, which resulted in structural failure of the wings.” 

The NTSB has also released a report on a separate incident involving a Cessna plane that ran out of fuel and ditched off Hilo in October. The report says pilot Charles Brian Mello was flying from California and wasn’t able to reach Hilo because of headwind.