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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, June 28, 2002

Fatigue may have contributed to crash

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

Pilot and co-pilot apparently struggled to determine their position shortly before their corporate jet slammed into a ridge May 10, 2000, near Moloka'i Airport, killing all six on board, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report released yesterday.

Fatigue may have played a role in the 8:31 p.m. crash. The report said the crew had been in transit from Tahiti for seven hours, with stops at Christmas Island and Maui. The day before, the crew crossed seven time zones over 14 hours in a flight from Argentina.

The Rockwell Sabreliner owned by Price Aircraft Company LLC, of Broomfield, Colo., crashed three miles southwest of the Kaunakakai airport, hitting mountainous terrain about 100 feet from the crest of a 1,400-foot ridge.

Examiners did not discover a pre-existing condition that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft, the report said.

However, they noted it was not equipped with a ground proximity warning device, which the Federal Aviation Administration requires of such aircraft. Under the rule, this plane would have been required to install one by 2005.

Among the victims were Colorado resident Macy Price Sr., owner of the aircraft company. Price also owned a beachfront home at Papohaku Beach on Moloka'i's west end.

As the aircraft and its occupants cleared customs at Kahului Airport at about 7:30 p.m, agents reported the crew in good spirits, although one pilot mentioned it had been a long day, the report said.

As the aircraft approached Moloka'i, the cockpit voice recorder noted a discussion between pilot William "Bill" Marr and co-pilot Jason Miller indicating they were having trouble locating the airport. At one point, the captain said, "This wasn't supposed to be difficult,'' then chuckled.

Minutes before the crash, the two finally spotted the runway lights they repeatedly tried to activate via radio signal. But seconds before the crash they said their vision was blocked by clouds.

An airport security guard said the night was so clear, she could see the outline of the mountains, according to the report. She saw the plane's blinking lights, but they seemed closer to the mountains than normal. Ranch security guards also said they noticed the airplane passing lower than normal over the ridgelines.

The safety board is expected to release another report in a few weeks listing a probable cause for the accident.