Posted on: Monday, February 9, 2004

Bad weather noted in report on 2003 fatal flight

Associated Press

The National Transportation Safety Board has released a factual report on a small plane crash that claimed the life of a 17-year-old O'ahu boy last year.

A weather briefing indicated conditions were expected to improve as Chezray Hayes flew the single-engine Cessna toward Maui, the report said.

However, two military helicopter pilots reported rain and clouds over Cape Halawa on Moloka'i, which the plane was approaching when it crashed Jan. 25, 2003, the NTSB said.

After hearing a traffic advisory indicating the plane was flying at 1,000 feet near the Kalaupapa peninsula, one copter pilot reported thinking the aircraft was going to encounter some bad weather, the agency said.

It had been Hayes' first solo interisland flight.

Last month, Hayes' family sued the company that provided him with flying lessons and which helped him arrange the fatal flight.

George's Aviation Services owner George Hanzawa said he was "saddened and disappointed" to learn of the suit.