NTSB: Hawaii plane floated 25 minutes, then sank
CTY MOLOKAI CRASH - 11 December 2013- One of two Makani Kai Air Cessna on the airfield at Lagoon Drive on Wednesday. One Cessna aircraft crashed into the waters off of Kalaupapa, Molokai hospitalizing six and killing one passenger. Honolulu Star-Advertiser photo by Cindy Ellen Russell
The National Transportation Safety Board says in a preliminary accident report that a small commercial plane that crash-landed in Hawaii waters floated for about 25 minutes before sinking.
The NTSB said in its brief preliminary report that it took rescuers about 80 minutes to reach the nine passengers after they exited the plane following the Dec. 11 crash.
Hawaii Health Director Loretta Fuddy died in the crash near Molokai. Maui police have not released results of an autopsy to determine how she died.
The NTSB report released Monday largely confirmed previous accounts by passengers and the plane’s pilot. Those aboard the Makani Kai Air flight from Kalaupapa to Honolulu say they heard a loud bang, then the plane lost power. The pilot glided the single-engine Cessna into the water.
