Says Airplane Floated About 25 Minutes In The Ocean Before Sinking

The NTSB has issued a preliminary report from an accident December 11 off the coast of Kalaupapa, Hawaii that resulted in one fatal injury. Eight people on board the Cessna 208B survived the accident.

According to the report, the accident occurred at 1522 Hawaiian standard time. The Cessna 208B, N687MA, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and ditching into the Pacific Ocean near Kalaupapa, Hawaii. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, one passenger was fatally injured, and five passengers received minor injuries. Makani Kai Air was operating the flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which had originated about 2 minutes before the accident. A company flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from the Kalaupapa airport on the island of Molokai, and was en route to Honolulu International airport, on the island of Oahu.

The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, a loud bang was heard and there was a total loss of power. After a short glide, he performed an open ocean ditching. The airplane floated for approximately 25 minutes and then sank. All the passengers put on their life preservers and exited the airplane. US Coast Guard and Maui Fire and Rescue personnel recovered the passengers approximately 80 minutes later.

(Cessna 208B pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov